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Digital TV Transition Worksession Request Dubu ue pp THE CTTY ©F ~`.` DLTB E ~.f.~.1.f.~ ~'~-' Masterpiece o~~ the Mississippi ~-` :~ 2007 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Council Work Session on Digital TV Transition DATE: January 30, 2008 Cable TV Coordinator Craig Nowack is requesting that a City Council Work Session be scheduled so that information can be presented on the upcoming digital television transition. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request that the Mayor and City Council set a date for the Work Session. Z ~v s ~.. 4 L t, Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Craig Nowack, Cable TV Coordinator THE CITY OF DUB E Masterpiece on the Mississippi MEMORANDUM TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Craig Nowack, Cable TV Coordinator DATE: January 18, 2008 RE: Council Work Session on Digital TV Transition Dubuque All-Amet'ica Citfl 0 2007 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend scheduling a City Council work session on the upcoming digital television transition. BACKGROUND Per the federal government, on February 17, 2009, analog transmission of television signals will end as the era of digital television is ushered in. People without a pay video service or a digital television tuner may find themselves unable to watch television after that date. In a similar vein, Mediacom will be undergoing its own digital television transition in the not-too-distant future. This may have an even bigger impact on Dubuque cable subscribers. Because television is such an integral part of 21St century American life, and because the transition to digital television is complicated and confusing, a work session to educate the City Council will also help educate Dubuque residents. An agenda for such a session might include: • An explanation of what the digital television transition entails • An explanation of the federal government's converter coupon program • What local residents need to do to be able to watch television after the transition • An explanation of standard definition television (SD) versus high definition television (HDTV) • Mediacom's explanation of how the national transition and its own local transition will affect Dubuque subscribers The live telecast of this work session along with subsequent replays would be very beneficial in terms of educating the local community. Although the City of Dubuque is not responsible for the transition itself, we can use our position in the community to help ensure that no local residents are unable to watch television after the transition occurs. I would also recommend inviting both the Cable TV Tele-Programming and Regulatory Commissions. RECOMMENDED ACTION I respectfully request that a City Council work session be scheduled in the spring to discuss the upcoming digital television transition. cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer