August 29, 2008
August 13 , 2008
August 1 , 2008
January 30, 2008
On February 17, 2009 , a little over one year from now, television stations around the country will discontinue analog broadcasts and only broadcast in "digital". Before that deadline, millions of consumers that have analog TV sets and rely on antennas to receive free broadcast signals will need to obtain a separate digital-to-analog converter to watch over-the-air TV, or lose service. NTIA is currently administering a coupon program, set to end on March 31, 2009, which permits all U.S. households to request up to two coupons (while supplies last), worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two of the needed digital-to-analog converters.
The conversion to digital broadcasting is necessary to free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast spectrum , which can then be used for other important wireless communications services, such as public safety communications (police and fire departments, emergency rescue) and advanced commercial wireless services. However, this DTV Transition has the potential to negatively impact access to broadcast TV programming by millions of American consumers nationwide as of the February 2009 deadline. Both the FCC and the NTIA have specifically asked NARUC, among many other groups, to assist them in assuring that consumers get word of the transition - including information on when a converter is necessary and how to get the NTIA coupon.
NARUC (Nation Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners) has collected information from numerous agencies, such as FCC and NTIA, to provide comprehensive answers for NARUC members and their constituents. This information was presented at the 2007 Annual Convention in Anaheim , California and is also available on the NARUC website (http://www.naruc.org/DTV/).
February 28, 2007
A customer or applicant that has been determined to be a victim of family violence as defined in the La. R.S. 46:2121.1 by treating medical personnel, by law enforcement personnel, by the office of a District Attorney, by the office of the Attorney General, or by a designated representative of a family violence program established under the La. R.S. 46:2122, et seq. shall be exempt from the utilities initial credit and/or deposit requirements as established in that utility�s tariff. This determination shall be evidenced by submission of a certification letter to the utility. The certification letter must be printed on the letterhead of the certifying agency or accompanied by a letter on agency letterhead identifying the certifying individual. The certification letter expires after ninety (90) days.