Analog to Digital Television

Congress passed a federal law, the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, mandating the last day of full power analog television broadcasting to be February 17, 2009. On February 17, 2009, all television channels in the US will convert from analog to digital. What does this mean to you?

"This is the end of a 10 year transition," said Bart Forbes, public affairs specialist with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. "This will mainly affect a few people who don't have digital or satellite television."

More than 50% of American homes now have a digital television set. More then 85% subscribe to a cable or satellite provider, and none of those consumers will be affected by the analog to digital transition, because they do not receive transmissions over the air. The only households to be affected are the ones without digital TV, and who receive transmissions over the air by antenna, which represents about 11% of the American households today. This 11% of the population is eligible to receive two coupons from the Department of Commerce, each coupon good for $40 discount on the purchase of a special converter box that will allow traditional analog sets to use the new digital transmissions. Converter boxes are expected to sell for $40 to $60 each.

Converter boxes will soon be available in many of the nation's largest retailers. Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears and Circuit City will carry the boxes. Congress has allotted $22.5 billion to subsidize consumer coupons for discounts on the purchase of these converter boxes. An additional $11.25 coupons will be issued once the first set of coupons runs out. Coupons will not be issued until the converter boxes are available in stores. If you have a cable or satellite provider, refer to the web site or contact your local provider, as you most likely do not need a converter box or any additional equipment. If you have rabbit ears on top of your television set, then it may be time to plan a trip to your local retailer to find out when the converter boxes are coming to town.

"Most people 50 and older watch five hours of TV a day," said Sean Voskuhl, associate state director for AARP in Oklahoma. "People over 65 also tend to have an older TV."

Some advocates of senior citizens are concerned that the analog to digital transition will affect senior citizens more than any other segment of the population. Nursing homes, group homes, and similar institutions do not qualify for the converter box discount coupons. Sean Voskuhl said that he is concerned of the impact on senior citizens because of the amount of TV that they watch. According to Nielsen, the New York based firm that rates television viewing, it is just over six hours a day for those over the age of 55. Voskuhl recommends senior citizens apply for coupons early, but since many of these older Americans do not use computers, the options may be confusing.

The transition will not be from analog to high definition television (HDTV), which is the highest level of TV service. HDTV sets already are equipped for digital service.

"Nothing will change for people with cable or satellite dish," said Dennis Whitman, of Fastpipe Media. "HDTV's sold now already have a tuner that serves the same purpose as a converter box."

The FCC advises viewers to check for any of the following: "Integrated Digital Tuner", "Digital Tuner Built In", "Digital Receiver", "Digital Tuner", "DTV", "ATSC", or "HDTV" on the set or the instruction manuals. When in doubt, contact the television manufacturer or the original retailer.

Digital Televisions are the market leader in consumer products, making up more then 16% of the $160 Billion spent on consumer electronics devices. Any television sold after May 25, 2007 is required to have a digital tuner or the seller is required to disclose that it does not have one.

"There is another aspect of this transition that is going largely unnoticed," said Mark Balinski, Senior Manager of Business Development for ZSL, Inc. "As the American consumer embraces the higher quality of digital television, HDTV, and the flat form factor of LCD, the old analog picture tube devices are being unceremoniously dumped with increasing regularity. Those clunky analog CRT devices and antiquated VCR's are not even considered hand-me-downs anymore. They are becoming poisonous electronic waste in our landfills."

Mark Balinski is at the forefront of a growing coalition to cope with the e-waste solution. Recognizing the challenges posed by the diverse legislation being proposed by individual states, Mark is developing a solution to track controlled substances and materials from the manufacturing process through the consumer electronics lifecycle, and back through recycling and reclamation. The proposed solution simplifies the process for government agencies, manufacturers, retailers, and the end-user consumers. "Our goal is to turn electronic waste into the new raw materials for future products, and to save more of our natural resources for future generations to enjoy," said Mark.

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Words of Wisdom

"Don't you wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence? There's one marked 'Brightness,' but it doesn't work."- Gallagher

"When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained."- Edward R. Murrow

"It is difficult to produce a television documentary that is both incisive and probing when every twelve minutes one is interrupted by twelve dancing rabbits singing about toilet paper." - Rod Serling

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You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.

About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.

Fuel Efficient Business

More companies have realized the benefits of fuel efficient alternatives for travel, communications, and employees. Not only is it good for the environment, but it is good for the budget. Helping employees to reduce personal expenses can be as good as a raise. When managed effectively, it can boost morale and productivity, as well as reduce overall costs.

How are companies stumping the pump?
According to an i4cp survey of 804 employees, the following are the top responses for company strategies to combat higher gas prices:

• 33% Rely on videoconferencing
  
• 27% Encourage telecommuting
  
• 23% Promote carpooling
  
• 9% Provide company sponsored rides
  
• 4% Teach gas saving tips
  

Videoconferencing and Conference calls
Videoconferencing is great for organizations that have multiple locations in different regions. It can also be used by individuals with the simple addition of a web camera and VOIP headset. This approach maintains the personal feel and interaction of a meeting with the facial expressions of the participants. While videoconferencing is steadily growing, many organizations still rely on the tried and true technology of simple conference calls. While email is a powerful way to send communications, with or without attachments, it is not an effective substitute for a conversation. Email can be subject to misinterpretation. Email is read and responded to at the convenience of the recipient, which decreases the timeliness of a dialogue. For fast and effective bilateral communications, the conference call and videoconference are still the best alternatives to a live conversation.

By maintaining quality of conference calls, the need for travel can be greatly reduced. Maintaining a high quality of effective conference calls often involves setting an agenda in advance, starting and finishing on time, diligently documenting the meeting minutes and action items. Adhering to this regimen can make conference calls as effective as a personal meeting for most internal business requirements. For those instances that the conference call requires visual aids, there are many tools available for live and interactive web presentations. The web tools allow participants to take turns reviewing presentations, spreadsheets, charts, forecasts, and other computer generated information or materials. Supplementing the conference call with live demonstrations on the web is a great way to illustrate the message.

Conference calls and live web demonstrations can also be used for some client situations, and for some training classes. The in-person approach is usually preferred for dealing with important client proposals, discussions, negotiations, and training. However, conference calls and live web demonstrations are good tools for supplementing the personal meetings, handling communications on short notice, and engaging multiple parties from diverse geographies at the same time. Setting up standard methods for initiating this kind of virtual meeting, and making it easy for people to use, can make this option a very valuable tool for the entire organization.

Telecommuting and Flexible hours
More companies are realizing the hidden benefits of telecommuting. Some jobs require personal attendance for meetings, group discussions, physical, or manual activities. However, many organizations have discovered how to strike a balance between physical and virtual attendance. Quite often, organizations will use a combination of office hours and virtual attendance by telecommuting. After all, telecommuting has long been an accepted practice for those individuals who are required to travel extensively in the field. The most significant shift in perception for telecommuting is measuring performance, rather than attendance. In reality, individuals who telecommute are more likely to invest longer hours, and to be more productive, than those employees who limit work hours to office hours. Productivity increases as concentration is improved and distractions are eliminated. The interaction in the office can facilitate quick work related conversations, as well as many non-productive (albeit more interesting) personal conversations. The social interaction and teamwork of the office environment can be supplemented by apportioning some hours to concentrated telecommuting, thereby achieving a perfect balance of production and teambuilding social interaction.

Another option practiced by many organizations is flex hours. While this does not diminish the number of vehicles on the road, or the number of trips to and from the office, it can certainly reduce the amount of time spent in the car and consuming gas in slow moving traffic. By simply working with employees to review optimum hours for commuting, more valuable time can be spent at home or office, with considerably less time spent on the road. This extra time increases personal and professional productivity. This is especially true for working parents who may otherwise need to structure schedules around school or a child's activities. Most often, accommodating some flexibility in the schedule allows greater concentration during work related periods, as well as a dedicated and appreciative employee.

What are the benefits to the employee? For those days telecommuting, multiply the mileage by the gallons of gas, and the price per gallon, to see how much money remains in the wallet. One or two days telecommuting per week can save hundreds of dollars for many employees. For improved time from flex hours, multiply the time saved by your hourly wage to determine the financial rewards. In either case for telecommuting or flex time, it is more difficult to place a financial value on personal productivity and quality of life, but those rewards are even bigger than the savings at the pump.
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Words of Wisdom

"The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office."- Robert Frost

"The trouble in corporate America is that too many people with too much power live in a box (their home), then travel the same road every day to another box (their office)."- Faith Popcorn

"I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. You couldn't park anywhere near the place."- Steven Wright
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"John is one of those rare individuals who actually practices what they espouse. There have been more than a few individuals, whether they be authors, managers, or even parents whose behavior is not consistent with what they preach. John is a person of integrity and wisdom; someone not always found in the business world. He sees the larger picture. He understands the personal worth of each individual, no matter their station in life. John is the Trusted Advocate. Oh, he's a pretty nice guy too."
Mark BalinskiSenior Manager, ZSL Inc

The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity is available now online in hardcover and paperback

About the Author:

John Mehrmann is author of The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, the fundamental guide to achieve extraordinary sales and sustain loyal customers. John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. http://www.executiveblueprints.com/ provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, and educational articles. http://www.instituteforadvancedleadership.com/ provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.