ALA President Loriene Roy to Speak at FCC Digital Television Workshop on Tribal, Rural Communities

Contact: Andy Bridges

ALA Washington Office

202-628-8410

For Immediate Release

January 28, 2007

ALA President Loriene Roy to Speak at FCC Digital Television Workshop on Tribal, Rural Communities

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, January 31, 2008, American Library Association (ALA) President Loriene Roy will speak at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the role of libraries in supporting the tribal community during the Digital Television (DTV) Transition.

This DTV Consumer Education Workshop will feature panel discussions focusing on both consumers on tribal lands and rural consumers and will explore the challenges associated with ensuring that those groups receive and can act on information regarding the DTV Transition.

Ms. Roy is Anishinabe, enrolled on the White Earth Reservation, and is a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. She will participate in the panel focusing on outreach to tribal communities.

“The DTV Transition will affect Americans from all walks of life, but those on tribal lands are especially vulnerable,” Ms. Roy said. “Libraries are trusted venues to assist tribal members in locating information and preparing for the transition.”

The Digital Television Consumer Education Workshop focusing on rural and tribal communities will be held Thursday, January 31, 2008, at FCC Headquarters, 445 12th St., SW, Washington, DC, in the Commission Meeting Room. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m.

A live webcast of the Workshop will be available at the FCC's website at http://www.fcc.gov on a first-come, first-served basis. During the Workshop, the public can e-mail questions for the panelists to dtvworkshop@fcc.gov.

To learn more about the DTV Transition, please visit www.ala.org/dtv or listen to Loriene Roy's podcast about DTV: www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=306.