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Viewers and service providers preparing for Feb. 17 transition to digital for television broadcasts
By ADAM VOSLER
Era Reporter
a.vosler@bradfordera.com
Viewers and service providers alike are preparing for the Feb. 17 nationwide switch of television broadcasts from analog to digital.
On that day, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to all-digital broadcasting. Digital television aims to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for emergency responders to use, according to www.dtv2009.gov, a federal Web site created to inform viewers about the transition.
Still, the upcoming move has left questions for some, especially those who aren’t up on their technology.
“We’ve been putting equipment in place (at the signal-receiving site) just so that, in the end, there will be no effect to our subscribers,” Mike Papasergi, general manager of Atlantic Broadband’s northern Pennsylvania operations, explained Monday afternoon.
“What that does is take it from digital and change it to analog so those people can receive it instead of having to buy new televisions.”
Those who don’t have a cable or satellite connection and are still using “rabbit ears” or an antenna will not get a proper signal after the switch.
“Cable subscribers don’t have to do anything. We’ll do everything for them; they’re set,” Papasergi said of Atlantic Broadband, a cable operator that services areas including western Pennsylvania and Cattaraugus County, N.Y.
Despite confusion among some television watchers since the move was announced, Papasergi explained that his office is currently not fielding a heavy load of calls or complaints about the situation.
“We’ve had it advertised for quite some time now that cable subscribers would be taken care of,” he said. “For those that have cable ... there’s no purchase of a converter box needed.”
Households which already have a television with digital capabilities will not be charged another monthly fee to have an analog set in the home converted. There is an installation fee of $25 to add additional sets with Atlantic Broadband.
“If they already have our service, there’s no monthly charge,” Papasergi said.
Those with such a setup have largely disappeared over the years as plasma and high-definition televisions have become the norm.
“I would say it would be a low number” of homes that still use an old-fashioned setup, Papasergi said. The television itself won’t make a difference as long as users are on a cable or satellite connection.
“Now if they’re going through rabbit ears or antenna, they’re going to need a voucher,” Papasergi said.
Over the last several months, an application process has been offered at www.dtv2009.gov, where people can potentially receive two $40 coupons toward the purchase of a converter box. Papasergi noted that the installation process for the converter boxes is simple.
“They’ll have national retailers who will be selling these converter boxes,” Papasergi said. “They convert the signal.”
However, the federal Web site now displays a message saying that the TV Converter Box Coupon Program has reached its funding ceiling. Still, coupon requests from eligible households will be filled as funds from expiring coupons are freed up again.
Those eligible who would still like to apply can be placed on a waiting list and will receive coupons on a first-come-first-served basis as others’ coupons expire, the Web site says. Coupons expire within 90 days of their mailing date.
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