The slew of ads warning Americans of the coming switch to digital TV is a media onslaught reminiscent of a hard-fought political campaign _ albeit without the mudslinging. But who’s footing the bill for all these consumer alerts?

Curiosity about the money behind the ad blitz inspired one of the questions in this edition of “Ask AP,” a weekly Q&A column where AP journalists respond to readers’ questions about the news.

If you have your own news-related question that you’d like to see answered by an AP reporter or editor, send it to newsquestions@ap.org, with “Ask AP” in the subject line. And please include your full name and hometown so they can be published with your question.

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Considering how big an aircraft carrier is these days _ about 6,000 people _ what kind of medical and dental staff do these vessels have?

Gary Forte

Selma, Ala.

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An aircraft carrier has about 60 onboard medical and dental staff. The total includes several surgeons, five dentists, a general practitioner, a psychologist and a physical therapist, according to the Navy.

Each carrier has a medical “ward” with 40 to 60 beds, an operating room, laboratories, three-bed intensive care unit, two “isolation rooms” with four beds each and a pharmacy. And if that isn’t enough, sailors are flown by jet or helicopter to the closest hospital.

Elliot Spagat

AP San Diego Correspondent

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Who is paying for all the advertising regarding conversion to digital television?

Scott T. Holland

Ottawa, Ill.

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Cable TV operators, broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers, community groups and the government have collectively spent at least $1.3 billion to tell consumers about the transition to digital television, which will occur after Feb. 17, 2009. Congress approved another $1.5 billion for a program offering $40 coupons to consumers to help pay for digital-to-analog TV converters.

Broadcasters spent over $1 billion on consumer education, which includes airtime donated by TV stations, according to the National Association of Broadcasters. The National Cable and Telecommunications Association, the cable industry trade group, said it has spent $225 million on educational spots, mostly on TV. Individual cable and satellite TV companies also did their own ads.

Congress also appropriated $35 million for the Federal Communications Commission to pay for consumer outreach, education and consumer call centers. The FCC has spent $355,000 to sponsor NASCAR driver David Gilliland in three races. Unluckily, the car has crashed twice.

The FCC also advertised in the AARP’s magazine, paid for its commissioners to attend town hall events and, among other efforts, hired a public relations agency.

Consumer electronics makers spent millions to run radio and print ads, as well as give out educational brochures featuring Florence Henderson, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

Deborah Yao

AP Business Writer

Philadelphia

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How, and by whom, are the members of the Obama transition team paid?

Wayne Brenholt

Chetek, Wis.

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Members of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team are paid through a combination of taxpayer dollars and private donations. They earn salaries comparable to those they made while working on the political campaign.

The 1963 Presidential Transition Act allows the General Services Administration to set aside taxpayer dollars to pay for staff and office space for the incoming administration. This year, that’ll amount to more than $8 million.

The rest of the money comes from the Obama-Biden Transition Project, which accepts donations up to $5,000 to pay for expenses before Obama takes office on Jan. 20.

A handful of aides are still on the campaign payroll, answering political questions and wrapping up what remains of the massive organization.

Obama won’t be paid during the transition. He hasn’t received a federal paycheck since resigning his U.S. Senate seat.

Philip Elliott

AP Writer

Washington

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Have questions of your own? Send them to newsquestions(at)ap.org.