NTIA Taps Martin, Industry Leaders for DTV Expo

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and the bosses of NAB, the Consumer Electronics Association and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association are on the agenda for the Sept. 25 “DTV Transition Expo,” held by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Dept. of Commerce headquarters in Washington, D.C. The event takes place the day prior to an FCC-sponsored consumer education workshop on the DTV transition, also in Washington.

The NTIA is the Commerce Department operation charged with administering nearly $1.5 billion worth of coupons for DTV converter boxes.

NTIA chief John Kneuer will join Martin for welcoming remarks at 9:30 a.m. They’ll be followed by a panel of FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein and representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Agriculture Department Food and Nutrition Service.

The CEOs of NAB, CEA, and NCTA will answer questions at 10 a.m.

At 11:15, a “stakeholder progress report” will include representatives of the Career and Community Leaders of America, AARP, Radio Shack, Entravision, the American Library Association, and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

About 18 broadcasters, multichannel video providers, industry groups and consumer electronics companies will be on hand for the Expo portion of the event.

The meeting will take place in the lobby and auditorium of the U.S. Department of Commerce.