Going, going, gone digital — with a few exceptions

Phones at help centers across the country rang Saturday, a day after broadcasters halted the transmission of analog signals long depended on by many people without cable or satellite television. The Federal Communication Commission, on its Web site, said Friday’s switch to digital television by 971 full-power stations had prompted hundreds of thousands of calls for help “but caused no widespread disruption of free, over-the-air television broadcasts.” It said 317,450 calls had been handled on Friday alone by the commission’s help line, 1-888-CALL-FCC. “Of the calls handled by live FCC help-line agents, nearly 30 percent concerned the operation of digital converter boxes,” the FCC said

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Brand’s prank calls earn BBC $220,000 fine

The BBC has been fined £150,000 ($220,000) after broadcasting two episodes of comedian Russell Brand’s radio show in which he left abusive phone messages on an actor’s phone. The incident involving Brand, the host of the Radio 2 program which aired the calls, and the entertainer Jonathan Ross, who took part, provoked outrage

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