a media relations blog advocating for a socially just and responsible digital television transition

Monday, March 2, 2009

DONATEDTV.COM PROVIDES NO-COST CONVERTER BOXES TO THOSE IN NEED DURING DIGITAL TV TRANSITION


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A group of Minnesota organizations and businesses have recently joined forces to help bring digital TV into every household, especially those who may need some assistance. Through a relationship established by the DTV Assistance Centers in Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN and “Mosquito Productions at FreeDTVShop.com” (www.mosquitoproductions.com), an authorized retailer in the government's TV Converter Box Coupon Program, people impacted by financial, language, mobility, and technological barriers will now be able to receive digital TV transmissions in their homes at no cost to them.

But this effort will only be successful with the help of the public at large. Together, these groups have established an online coupon donation website at www.DonateDTV.com. Anyone from around the country can donate unused, non-expired coupons simply by visiting the website and entering in the information found on a red plastic converter box coupon card. To date, nearly 50% of all coupons that have been sent out by the government have expired. If you are in possession of a coupon card that is not needed for your own home's televisions, donate it today at www.DonateDTV.com. It will result in a DTV converter box being placed in the home of someone in need.

"It's a shame that so many coupons are going unused and expiring," said John Buchmann, owner of Mosquito Productions. "The good news is that once a coupon expires, the funds that were allocated for that coupon are then applied to a new coupon, so there is still a huge opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone who just needs a little help during this confusing transition time. If you have a coupon that you don't need, don't let it expire -- donate it now at DonateDTV.com!"

The Twin Cities' DTV Assistance Centers were established by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF) with the support of the National Telecommunication and Information Administration and are comprised of the Main Street Project (www.mainstreetproject.org) and the Lao Assistance Center (www.laocenter.org). The assistance centers are also working in concert with the Minnesotano Media Empowerment Project (www.mmediap.umn.edu), and Media Action Grassroots Network (www.mediagrassroots.org) during this endeavor.

“Mosquito Productions at FreeDTVShop.com” has been an authorized retailer in the TV coupon program since February, 2008 and sells converter boxes online at www.FreeDTVShop.com.

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Contact:
John Buchmann
Mosquito Productions
763-390-5700 x50
john@mosquitoproductions.com
http://www.freedtvshop.com
http://www.mosquitoproductions.com