Thousands of Denver-area residents who are unprepared for the upcoming transition to all-digital television can get free help from an army of federal community-assistance workers.
Denver is the first of 49 cities nationwide to get assistance as part of an agreement between the Federal Communications Commission and the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps — sort of a domestic version of the Peace Corps.
Three teams of AmeriCorps workers will fan out across the metro area to help those targeted for special assistance. They will visit homes where individuals need help connecting antennas, televisions and set-top converter boxes in time for the June 12 national switch from analog to digital broadcasts.
The teams also will help people apply for $40 federal coupons to offset the cost of converter boxes, make presentations at community events and work at various walk-in centers.
Denver was selected as the test market for NCCC’s participation, FCC spokesman Mark Wigfield said.
Households that rely on free over-the- air television signals and don’t have digital-ready TVs must have converter boxes in order to continue receiving signals.
The Nielsen Co. says as many as 72,000 Denver-area households — and 6.5 million nationally — won’t see a thing on their television sets once the digital deadline passes because they’ve done nothing to get ready, aren’t sure how to prepare or simply don’t know the transition is coming.
Digital television signals do not cast shadows or ghost images as traditional analog broadcasts do, so unprepared viewers will see only a blank blue screen.
Local television stations will broadcast contact information for individuals needing assistance to sign up for NCCC help — 303-620-9129 through April 20. The workers will not provide any equipment, only the labor to put it all together.
Homes targeted by the program are those with low-income individuals, minority and non-English-speaking consumers, seniors, and those with disabilities or living in rural areas or on tribal lands.
“Our role in this is for people to have the material they need, and we’ll go in and help get them ready,” said Philip Rudy, NCCC’s program director in Denver.
The three teams will work after-hours and on weekends. The teams — two in Denver and one in Boulder — will continue their regular NCCC work, including improving and beautifying public school playgrounds and teaching computer skills to urban youth.
NCCC is a full-time in-residence AmeriCorps program made up of individuals from 18 to 24 years old whose public service mission is to strengthen communities and develop leaders.
Several stations already have turned off analog broadcasts, and others are expected to do so weeks before the national deadline.
David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com
Still not ready for digital TV?
Large television stations are mandated to switch to all-digital broadcasts by June 12. One Denver station — KBDI-TV channel 12 — switched in February. Three others — KUSA channel 9, KMGH channel 7 and KTVD channel 20 — will turn off analog signals on April 16.
Those who rely on free over-the-air television signals and don’t own a digital television must get a converter box to continue receiving signals. Here are a few things you need to know:
• Converter Box Coupons: Request a $40 coupon to offset the cost of a converter box by calling 888-388-2009. Two per household limit.
• Converter Box Installation: Request help connecting your TV and the converter box by calling 303-620-9129.
• Where’s My Coupon?: You can check the status of a coupon online at
• What Channel?: check digital channel lineups at stations_in_Colorado
Source: Denver Post research
Who are they?
NCCC is a full-time in-residence AmeriCorps program made up of individuals from 18 to 24 years old whose public service mission is to strengthen communities and develop leaders.
