Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON – Congressman Dennis Cardoza announced today that he will conduct a community workshop in Stockton on Sept. 3 in order to help residents maintain access to free public television.

On February 17, 2009 all television stations will begin broadcasting with a digital signal, a significant departure from the traditional analog airwaves used. As a result, those without a digital television will no longer have access to broadcasting without a conversion box or new digital TV.

The Digital TV Transition Community Awareness Workshop will be held on Sept. 3 at 3:30 p.m. at the Dorothy Jones Community Center in Stockton.

“I am especially concerned about the impact of this change on low-income, elderly and rural residents of the San Joaquin Valley,” said Congressman Cardoza, who will personally host the meeting. “It is imperative that we ensure our neighbors have the same access to all of the same programming they have always had. In times of an emergency or a crisis there is no more efficient means to disseminate pertinent information than public television.”
 
Congressman Cardoza will have several federal communications agencies present to provide information and assistance to those affected by the change. Applications will be provided that allow residents to receive coupons to help offset the cost of the conversion boxes.