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Kevin J. Cummings wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:486108BD.4090207@kjchome.homeip.net" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Alen Edwards wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
David Brodbeck wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Jay R. Ashworth wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Bright House Tampa Bay is sending around an email to it's customers
telling them how they're "already covered" for the DTV cutover next
year, just because they had the good sense to be BHTB subscribers.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">Comcast is saying the same thing in their ads, here, but there are
already rumors that they're planning on switching to digital-only in
some markets.
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">They can't switch to digital only in the US. It is against the law.
They can in a few years if the exemption isn't extended. It is part of
the ATSC law. I don't remember how long they have to stay analog but I
posted a message about it a few weeks ago.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
Apparently, there is a loophole in that law that says that a cable
company is not allowed to drop their analog broadcast *UNLESS* they drop
*ALL* of their analog broadcasts and provide *ONLY* digital services.
(Or so I have read in a thread over at AntennaWeb.com.)
Many cable companies are seeing this as a way to rent more converter
boxes if they drop all of their analog support as most customers don't
yet have all digital TVs, customers will need the converter boxes to
continue using their old analog TVs.
I'm not sure of the details, but as I stated in another thread, RCN in
Massachusetts has already started their conversions process. Town by
town. The first ones should be complete early next month. RCN is
(occasionally) running adds on their network that claims that after the
cut-over in your town, if you don't have a digital converter box on your
TV, all you'll see is *SNOW*. From what I can tell (I don't live in one
of these areas), this may only apply to the areas where RCN only
provides a subset of its services, and not the entire channel line-up it
does in other towns. I'm just not sure, and RCN isn't making it easy to
find out.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Allen
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
</pre>
</blockquote>
I stand corrected. Here is the official FAQ from the government that
is relevant. I mis-remembered it.<br>
<br>
<blockquote><b>Will cable customers with analog TVs have to buy or rent
a set-top box from their cable company? If so, how much will it cost?</b>
<p>First, it's important to know that the February 17, 2009 deadline
for the digital television transition only applies to full-power
broadcast stations. Cable companies are not required by the government
to transition their systems to digital, and can continue to deliver
channels to their customers in analog. Cable companies are actually
required by FCC rules to continue offering local broadcast stations to
their customers in analog as long as they offer any analog service.
This requirement will continue for at least three years after February
17, 2009. The Commission will decide in 2011 whether the requirement
should be continued beyond February 17, 2012. This means that customers
who receive analog cable service (without a cable set-top box) will be
able to continue to do so. </p>
<p>However, for business reasons (among other things, digital is much
more efficient than analog), cable companies may be interested in
transitioning their systems from analog delivery to digital delivery.
If a cable company makes the business decision to go all-digital
(meaning it will stop offering any channels to its customers in
analog), it must ensure that its analog customers can continue to watch
their local broadcast stations. This may require customers with analog
televisions to get a set-top box. If the cable company provides the
customer with a set-top box, any costs related to it will be determined
by the cable company. Therefore, it is recommended that analog cable
customers contact their cable company to ask if a set-top box will be
needed, when it will be needed, and if there will be a cost.<br>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Sorry for any confusion my earlier post may have caused.<br>
</p>
<p>Allen<br>
<br>
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