If you live in a television market in which more than 100,000 households or at least 15 percent of the households rely solely on over-the-air signals for television, an FCC commissioner may be coming to visit.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin today announced a nationwide initiative to increase awareness about the upcoming transition to digital television. The FCC identified target television markets for specific DTV outreach and the five FCC commissioners and other Commission staff will fan out to these and other markets to raise awareness and educate consumers prior to to the DTV transition on February 17, 2009.

At each stop, there will be a public event, such as a town hall meeting, workshop, or roundtable with an FCC commissioner to highlight the digital transition and be available to local press.

In coordination with these visits, the FCC will work with local TV and radio stations to increase the broadcasts of radio and TV DTV PSAs. All combined, this outreach is designed to educate consumers in these DMAs and especially those groups that are most vulnerable in the transition: Seniors, people living tribal and rural areas, people with disabilities, individuals with low-incomes, minorities and non-English speakers.

Martin was joined by representatives from the National Association of Broadcasters, Consumer Electronics Retailer Coalition, Consumer Electronics Association, and the National Cable Telecommunications Association for the announcement at the Newseum in Washington, one of the television markets identified. The NAB and members of the DTV Coalition will be assisting the commission throughout this nationwide tour.

"As part of our efforts to prepare consumers for the transition, we have identified television markets in which the largest number of viewers will have to take action to be prepared for the transition six months from now," Martin said. "This unprecedented nationwide tour by the entire Commission is part of our commitment to prepare and educate consumers about the digital television transition."

Recognizing the challenges many viewers in these communities may face, commissioners unanimously agreed to travel coast-to-coast to hold public events, meet with community leaders, broadcasters, and other stakeholders to highlight steps consumers need to take to be prepared for the transition.

In the coming weeks, an FCC commissioner will be in the following

cities:

Anchorage, Alaska                              8/27/2008

Fairbanks, Alaska                                8/28/2008

Baltimore, Maryland                           9/8/2008

San Francisco, California                    9/11/2008

Austin, Texas                                      9/18/2008

Houston, Texas                                   9/17/2008

Memphis, Tennessee                          9/19/2008

New York, New York                            9/27/2008

Boise, Idaho                                        9/29/2008

Atlanta, Georgia                                  9/29/2008

Missoula, Montana                             9/30/2008

Helena, Montana                                10/1/2008

Bozeman, Montana                             10/2/2008

Billings, Montana                                10/3/2008

Nashville, Tennessee                          10/7/2008

Charlotte, North Carolina                    10/16/2008

Denver, Colorado                                10/16/2008

Seattle, Washington                           10/20/2008

Spokane, Washington                         10/21/2008

Yakima, Washington                           10/22/2008

Portland, Oregon                                 10/23/2008

Chicago, Illinois                                  11/20/2008

Phoenix, Arizona                                 12/29/2008

The commission will release periodic updates on markets that the commission will visit as future trips are finalized.

In the days prior to each visit, FCC staffers will be on the ground providing technical and outreach assistance to local broadcasters, community leaders, and other stakeholders, to prepare for the transition to digital. The FCC will also be coordinating with NAB to explore whether these DMAs may participate in a temporary turn off of their analog signals ("soft tests") to determine consumer readiness of the DTV transition.

The following is a list of areas the FCC will visit prior to February 17, 2009. More information will follow regarding upcoming dates for the remaining cities.

Albuquerque-Santa Fe, New Mexico

Anchorage, Alaska

Atlanta, Georgia

Austin, Texas

Baltimore, Maryland

Bangor, Maine

Billings, Montana

Boise, Idaho

Boston, Massachusetts

Bozeman, Montana

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, West Virginia

Charlotte, North Carolina

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chicago, Illinois

Chico-Redding, California

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cleveland-Akron (Canton), Ohio

Colorado Springs,-Pueblo, Colorado

Columbus, Ohio

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

Dayton, Ohio

Denver, Colorado

Des Moines-Ames, Iowa

Detroit, Michigan

Duluth-Superior, Minnesota

El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, NM)

Erie, Pennsylvania

Fairbanks, Alaska

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fresno-Visalia, California

Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Michigan

Green Bay-Appleton, Wisconsin

Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina

Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas

Helena, Montana

Honolulu, Hawaii

Houston, Texas

Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho

Indianapolis, Indian

Joplin, Missouri-Pittsburg, Kansas

Kansas City, Missouri

Knoxville, Tennessee

La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Lansing, Michigan

Laredo, Texas

Los Angeles, California

Lubbock, Texas

Madison, Wisconsin

Memphis, Tennessee

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

Missoula, Montana

Nashville, Tennessee

New York, New York

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Phoenix, Arizona

Portland, Oregon

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina

Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia

Rochester, New York

Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, California

Saint Louis, Missouri

Salt Lake City, Utah

San Antonio, Texas

San Diego, California

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, California

Seattle-Tacoma, Washington

South Bend-Elkhart, Indiana

Spokane, Washington

Springfield, Missouri

Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida

Toledo, Ohio

Tucson, Arizona

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Twin Falls, Idaho

Washington, DC

Wausau-Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, Washington

Yuma, Arizona-El Centro, California