Best Buy, student group raise DTV awareness

WASHINGTON, D.C. Best Buy is teaming up with the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a 220,000-member student group, to help U.S. households make the switch from analog to digital, in preparation for Feb. 17, 2009, when all television in the United States will become digitial.

Best Buy has donated $50,000 to the student group for a community outreach competition in which FCCLA chapters will battle it out to see who has the most creative and effective way of educating consumers about requesting digital television converter boxes and coupons from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

The competition begins in January 2008 and throughout the year prizes will be awarded to FCCLA chapters, with one grand prize winner to be selected in July 2008.

"We believe that our nation's youth have the ideas and passion that will help the U.S. public prepare for the digital transition," said Paula Prahl vp of public affairs for Best Buy Co. "We know people are looking for information about digital TV and converter options from a variety of sources. FCCLA is providing its 220,000 student members with a great opportunity to get involved in their communities at a time of great change in this country. We are proud to support these student leaders as part of our own commitment to help consumers understand the digital transition and take action."