The FCC Monday beefed up its consumer outreach concerning the television channel repack. The agency opened a call center dedicated to helping viewers of over-the-air television rescan their TVs during the channel repack.
The action is something long-sought by broadcasters. NAB “wholeheartedly endorses” the idea of an FCC call center, said NAB EVP Communications Dennis Wharton.
“FCC staff members have been great partners in spreading the word on the TV and radio repack. Our mutual goal is to ensure that no TV viewer or radio listener is left behind as a result of the repack,” he tells Inside Towers.
Incentive Auction Task Force Chair Jean Kiddoo said, “As an over-the-air TV viewer myself, I know that consumers sometimes need extra help rescanning televisions when broadcast stations add channels or change frequencies. That’s why it’s so important to make both online information and telephone assistance like the consumer helpline available to viewers during the ongoing broadcast transition.”
Viewers may reach the call center toll-free by dialing 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) and pressing “6” to speak to a help desk representative. The call center is staffed from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern time, seven days a week. The Commission also created a web page dedicated to rescanning. It includes a link to an interactive map that allows viewers to insert an address to see the frequency change timeframe for most local channels.
February 5, 2019
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