Posted by chicagomedia.org on June 17, 2009 at 12:43:43:
FCC to send agents to resolve lingering DTV problems in Chicago
By Wailin Wong | Tribune reporter
1:05 PM CDT, June 16, 2009
The Federal Communications Commission is sending more staffers to Chicago to resolve technical problems from the weekend's transition from analog to digital television, the agency said Tuesday.
The FCC said it has reassigned employees from other markets to Chicago, which appears to be one of several large markets with a higher number of reported problems. In a statement issued late Monday, the FCC said it "is examining reports of signal loss" in areas including Chicago, Philadelphia and New York.
"While most consumers have made a disruption-free transition to digital, some consumers in Chicago and some other markets are having trouble receiving one or more of their favorite stations," said Michael Copps, the FCC's acting chairman. "We are looking at all available options to resolve these issues."
In Chicago, WLS-Ch. 7 had some "unique issues" that are being worked out with the FCC, according to the National Association of Broadcasters. NAB data showed that the station had received 1,735 direct phone calls as of Friday evening, many more than other stations. WTTW-Ch. 11, which made the digital switch hours before WLS, had received just 35 calls as of Friday evening.