Topline: In 2008, the Federal Communications Commission announced that all TV stations would be required to broadcast using digital signals instead of analog — and decided to spend $350,000 to turn a NASCAR car into a “Digital TV Transition Ford” advertising that fact. It cost $511,000 in 2024 dollars.
There was just one problem, aside from the wasteful spending: the car didn’t even make it through its first race fully intact.
That’s according to the “Wastebook” reporting published by the late U.S. Senator Dr. Tom Coburn. For years, these reports shined a white-hot spotlight on federal frauds and taxpayer abuses.
Coburn, the late U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, earned the nickname "Dr. No" by stopping thousands of pork-barrel projects using the Senate rules. Projects that he couldn't stop, Coburn included in his oversight reports.
Coburn's Wastebook 2008 included 65 examples of outrageous spending worth more than $1.3 billion, including the $350,000 DTV.gov Ford.
Key facts: The FCC, under Chairman Kevin Martin’s direction, sponsored driver David Gilliland’s No. 38 car for three races.
The car’s first race in Arizona was nearly finished when Gilliland crashed into a wall in the 485th lap.
The ads likely were unnecessary. A National Association of Broadcasters report had already found that awareness of the digital transition was at a “near-universal” level.
The watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste named Martin their “Porker of the Month'' in October 2008. They suggested that the NASCAR sponsorship served a secondary purpose of ingratiating Martin with North Carolina voters, where NASCAR runs four office buildings and where Martin hoped to launch future political campaigns.
The FCC also spent $1 million to advertise digital television in AARP magazine, among other purchases.
Critical quote: Even FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein confessed that the car “doesn’t seem like the most efficient use of resources.”
Supporting quote: Martin didn’t seem to mind that his car met a grim fate. "Except for the cars that win the races, the cars that are in wrecks get a lot of attention," he said.
Summary: The FCC’s $350,000 advertising campaign was arguably more successful than anyone could have hoped; once the “Digital TV Transition Ford” smashed into a wall, it made headlines around the country.
The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com
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