Comcast official details analog-to-digital transition coming in February
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer
Only Comcast customers who still have "rabbit ears" or roof antennas will have problems when the company switches from analog to digital broadcasts next February.

"Residents with current cable or dish subscribers, they have nothing to worry about," Comcast spokesman Robert Clifton said at the June 24 Township Council meeting.

Clifton gave a presentation on how the company's transition from analog to digital signals will affect township residents. The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that the transition be completed by Feb. 17, 2009, he said.

"All broadcast signals in analog will cease on that day," Clifton said.

The broadcast channels that are affected are CBS, NBC, CW, PBS and any stations that are still broadcasting in analog, he said.

The analog broadcast signals will be reclaimed for use by emergency service providers such as police, fire and first aid and for cell phone service, he said.

"The only individuals who will be affected by digital transmission are those that have rabbit ears or roof-top antennas," he said. "Anyone who has Comcast cable service, even if they have no digital box, will still be able to receive those broadcast signals."

Those who don't have Comcast cable service have three options - sign up with Comcast or another digital television provider, buy a digital television set with a digital tuner built into it, or apply for or buy a separate digital-to-analog settop converter box from a retailer, Clifton said.

Customers should research what set they buy, since some stores are still selling older television models with only analog broadcast tuners, which will not work once the transition to digital is made, he said.

"About 80 percent of your residents are fine," he said. "Those with rabbit ears or antennas will have to do something about that."

The FCC mandated that all new televisions must include digital tuners by March 1, 2007, and prohibited the manufacture, import or interstate shipment of any sets with analog tuners. But retailers can continue to sell analog-only sets from existing inventory, according to the FCC's Web site.

"As a result, at the point of sale, many consumers may not be aware that this equipment will not be able to receive over-the-air television signals after Feb. 17, 2009," the FCC Web site states.

Councilman Daniel Toth said he had noticed "less and less channels on that lower 20."

"I only have 23-24 channels, true basic," Toth said.

Comcast had to launch more high-definition programs in order to compete with Verizon and other providers, Clifton said.

The Philadelphia broadcasts for NBC and CBS, along with Turner Classic

Movies and the History Channel, have already been moved up to digital, to create more "shelf space," he said.

"The Philadelphia broadcasts, NBC, CBS, they have migrated up to digital," Clifton said. "Ocean County is very unique, not just in New Jersey, but in the entire nation. It's situated between two TV markets. Antennas can reach Philadelphia as well as New York signals. Under federal law, we have to keep the New York feed on the lineup. Under FCC guidelines, Ocean County is considered in the New York viewing area."

Residents who still want those broadcasts can rent a digital converter box from Comcast, for $1 to $4 a month, depending upon their plan, he said.

"We understand, especially in southern Ocean County, these Philadelphia broadcasts are very important to residents," Clifton said. "You can still get those channels that have been moved up if you get the digital box."

Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said the township had received "a lot of phone calls" about Turner Classic Movies and the History Channel.

The digital box has to be rented, because Comcast doesn't have boxes consumers can buy, Clifton said.

Resident Nan Coll also questioned why TCM and the History Channel had already been moved.

"Why do you have to spend a lot of money on a box to receive those particular channels?" Coll asked.

"We have to launch more high-definition programs," Clifton said. "We are 20 to 30 HD channels behind our competitors. They currently have more programming than us."