New DTV center opens to aid north Portlanders

Published: Feb 23, 2009 at 12:47 PM PST
New DTV center opens to aid north Portlanders

The following is a press release from the Urban League of Portland:

PORTLAND, Ore. – This week, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, in partnership with the Urban League of Portland, opened the city's second digital television transition community center. This center will assist affected communities in North Portland with the transition and act as a hub for information and technical support during the switch to digital television.  The center will be located at:

10 N. Russell St.
Portland, OR 97227
Phone: (503) 280-2600
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Urban League will serve communities in North Portland.

This month, Portland's local stations, one-by-one, decided to heed Congress' call to delay the transition to June of this year. This will give organizations like the Urban League the ability to reach at-risk communities most affected by the switch and make sure they are prepared.

"We are pleased to offer this service so that our community has the information they need to make a smooth transition to digital TV. We want to make sure that people get the essential news they need during an emergency. Our community needs to stay connected; it could save lives," said Midge Purcell, Organization & Public Affairs Coordinator for the Urban League.  "With Congress extending the transition date to June, we are happy that people who use rabbit ears or rooftop antennas to receive over-the-air signals will have extra time to get their converter boxes, but the sooner they act the better."

The Urban League will hold coupon application drives, help distribute coupons and conduct trainings about the converter box options and installation.

Portland's Main DTV Assistance Center is located at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) at 10301 NE Glisan St., Portland, OR 97220.

For more information on how the DTV transition will impact vulnerable communities, visit: http://www.civilrights.org/dtv/.  For transition resources in the Portland area, visit: http://pdxdtv2009.synthasite.com/. 

For questions concerning the DTV Transition or to order coupons, call 1-888-CALL-FCC. Visits to the Urban League during office hours (Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) are welcome.