[SBE] The future of Broadcasting.

[Sam Garfield]

It is hard to have respected the SBE National during the DTV transition 
since the SBE National took no position on this issue. The SBE National 
did not try to educate the public (and could have been heroes), or to 
assist with input if the U.S. was ready for this transition. The local 
chapters took their own initiative to do what they could. No combined 
engineering voice was heard to the Political Leaders of our Government 
from the SBE National as to the DTV transition. Although part of the 
Charter of the SBE is to promote jobs within the industry, the SBE 
National was silent to the FCC and its members on the DTV transition and 
the loss of spectrum. During my time on the National Board, I tried to 
get the attention of the Board that this major change was coming and 
that the SBE could steer the ship. Rather the SBE National choose to 
pursue other events that were not relevant to membership & jobs. The SBE 
needs to be an active participant with the present government 
administration in representing its members NOW and awaken our Government 
to the benefit that OTA provides.