2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/133899Shannon proved that if we can transmit bits reliably at rates larger than the rate distortion function $R(D)$, then we can transmit this source to within a distortion $D$. We answer the converse question ``If we can transmit a source to within a distortion $D$, can we transmit bits reliably at rates less than the rate distortion function?'' in the affirmative. This can be viewed as a direct converse of the rate distortion theorem.18 pages, 3 figure, orginally presented at Allerton 06Information Theorytext