PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Release Date: Jan. 8, 2009<\/p>\n
Contact: Rick Norris<\/p>\n
CSD Communications Office<\/p>\n
rnorris@c-s-d.org<\/p>\n
CSD Receives $1.1 Million FCC Grant to Implement Nationwide Awareness
\nCampaign About Transition to DTV<\/p>\n
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Jan. 8, 2009) – Communication Service for the
\nDeaf, Inc. (CSD) today announced that it has been awarded a $1.1
\nmillion grant from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) using
\nfunds that were appropriated by Congress last year for DTV outreach.
\nThe grant will be used to launch a national awareness campaign about
\nthe country’s transition to digital television (DTV).<\/p>\n
On Feb. 17 of this year, America’s entire television network
\ninfrastructure will transition to a digitally based broadcast signal.
\nUnless a digital converter box is obtained and installed, over-the-air
\nanalog viewers will not be able to receive a television signal.
\nCongress has encouraged broadcasters and the FCC to implement massive
\nawareness campaigns to better educate the public about this upcoming
\nchange. It is expected that millions of Americans will be contacting
\ninformation centers for more details. CSD is one of 12 recently
\nidentified organizations to help with outreach efforts and technical
\nassistance.<\/p>\n
“We are delighted to receive this award from the FCC and are very
\nenthusiastic about developing an educational awareness initiative for
\ncitizens all across the nation,” stated Benjamin J. Soukup, CSD
\npresident and chief executive officer. “We are also pleased that
\nspecial attention is being given to key population groups–minorities,
\nsenior citizens, the disabled, and others–which are otherwise
\noverlooked. Sensitivity to equal access and equal accommodations is
\nsomething we have staunchly advocated for and the funding of projects
\nlike this is most definitely a move in the right direction. We look
\nforward to other future opportunities just like this one to ensure
\nthat all citizens–including those who may be deaf or hard of
\nhearing–have equal access to information and communication when
\nimportant announcements like this one must be made.”<\/p>\n
CSD will immediately create and release deaf oriented PSAs,
\ndisseminate educational materials, conduct seminars, answer calls from
\nan established call center, help viewers get and install DTV-to-analog
\nconverter boxes, educate consumers about the use of DTV closed
\ncaptioning services, provide technical assistance, and more. Within
\nweeks, deaf and hard of hearing consumers will be able to contact
\nCSD’s Help Center via regular voice phone service or by using
\nvideophones, the Web, IM Chat, Relay Services, IP Relay, Voice Carry
\nOver, Captioned Telephone (Cap-Tel), Video Relay Services and Spanish
\nVideo Relay Services to make inquiries.<\/p>\n
The duration of this project is expected to last throughout the next
\nsix months and CSD hopes to aggressively work with several other
\nnational groups and organizations such as the Hearing Loss Association
\nof America, the National Association of the Deaf, Telecommunications
\nfor the Deaf, Inc., Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program
\nAssociation, and many, many others to reach America’s 28 million deaf
\nand hard of hearing people. For more information and updates in the
\nweeks ahead, please be sure to visit the CSD Web site at
\nwww.c-s-d.org.<\/p>\n
About CSD — CSD (a.k.a. Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc.)
\nwas established in 1975, primarily to provide sign language
\ninterpreting services to deaf and hard of hearing adults in South
\nDakota. Today, CSD employs over 1,500 individuals in offices across
\nthe nation, providing a broad continuum of social and human services
\nprograms, as well as telecommunications relay services. CSD is a
\nprivate nonprofit agency dedicated to providing quality services;
\nensuring public accessibility; and increasing awareness of issues
\naffecting the deaf, hard of hearing and individuals with speech
\ndisabilities. For more information, please visit www.c-s-d.org.<\/p>\n
# # #<\/p>\n
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PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Release Date: Jan. 8, 2009 Contact: Rick Norris CSD Communications Office rnorris@c-s-d.org CSD Receives $1.1 Million FCC Grant to Implement Nationwide Awareness Campaign About Transition to DTV SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Jan. 8, 2009) – Communication Service for the…<\/p>\n