For Immediate Release:
 August 05, 2008

Media Contact:
Sonya M. Perez
soperez@miamidade.gov
 305-375-4942



Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz and Consumer Services Partner to Educate Others About the Digital Television Transition


(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, District 12, and the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department are partnering to help seniors and others living on fixed incomes get ready for the digital television transition.  On Thursday, July 31, Commissioner Diaz and representatives of the Consumer Services Department visited the Sweetwater Senior Center located at 10600 SW 4th Street and assisted seniors in filling out applications for digital-to-analog converter box coupons.  They also raffled a couple of converter boxes, which were donated by Best Buy.

After February 17, 2009, television stations will stop broadcasting analog signals and will broadcast in digital format only.  Consumers who do not have digital TVs will not be able to view programming unless they subscribe to cable or satellite service.  To help minimize the financial impact on consumers, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is operating the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.  This program allows for the distribution of two $40 coupons per U.S. household to be used toward the purchase of a digital-to-analog converter box.  The converter boxes sell for approximately $60 each.  The converter box, much like a cable box, will allow an analog TV to receive a picture.

More DTV events are planned in communities throughout Miami-Dade.  Anyone interested in having a speaker address the topic at a community function should contact Sonya Perez, Public Relations & Outreach Specialist for the Consumer Services Department, at soperez@miamidade.gov.  Additional information on DTV is available at www.miamidade.gov/csd.

About Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department
The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department investigates and mediates consumer complaints, enforces the County's consumer protection laws and business regulations, and licenses certain businesses.  For information on consumer protection laws and department services, log on to www.miamidade.gov/csd or call the Consumer Mediation Center at 305-375-3677.

DTV event

Two lucky seniors win the digital television converter box raffle held at the Sweetwater Senior Center located at 10600 SW 4th Street on July 31, 2008.  The event was hosted by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz and the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department, who are partnering to help seniors and others living on fixed incomes get ready for the digital television transition.  Retail giant Best Buy donated the converter boxes.

Pictured from left to right are Olga Fulgueira, Director of Community Affairs for the Office of Commissioner Diaz; Sonya Perez, Public Relations & Outreach Specialist for the Consumer Services Department; Josefina Cruz, converter box winner; Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz; Maria Alvarez, converter box winner; and Isabel Cruz, Consumer Protection Investigative Analyst.

 

 
 

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CONSUMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT

 

It is the policy of Miami Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility is accessible. For sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices or materials in accessible format, please call 305-375-4942 at least five days in advance.