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Last week the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) released some TV spots in anticipation of the upcoming transition from analog to digital broadcasting. (Here’s our past coverage of the switch.) It’s great to see some raising of the public awareness of this, because, frankly, I think a lot of people are still largely unaware of the upcoming change.

In February 2009, network broadcast stations will no longer transmit in analog format. TV viewers who receive over-the-air broadcasts will need to have purchased digital sets or purchase government-subsidized converters by then. Some cable customers also still receive analog signal. Once broadcast channels stop making analog content available to cable companies, those subscribers’ signals will require conversion—either where they originate or at each customer’s home. The ads say that cable companies “take care of all the transition stuff for us.”

But there is some uncertainty regarding just how that will happen. According to this AP story, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and consumer advocate Gene Kimmelman would both like a stronger commitment and a more detailed plan from the cable companies. Chairman Martin would like the FCC to require cable companies to convert the signal themselves or provide “down converters” to their customers, but the FCC has been divided over implementing such a regulation. Although the NTCA says customers will not be charged more for the conversion, it strongly resists any government mandate requiring continued analog support. Kimmelman’s organization, Consumer’s Union, finds this position “disingenuous” and is concerned that cable customers will ultimately be the ones forced to pay for converters or upgrade to a more expensive cable package.

While we await the details of the transition being finalized by the FCC, the cable companies, and consumer advocates, check out the FCC’s website providing information about the switch and make sure you’re prepared.

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Published on: September 11th, 2007

Categories: TV & Online Video, Tech Stories