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chicagotribune.com >> Technology
Comcast near finish of digital upgrade

By Eric Benderoff
Tribune staff reporter
Published April 6, 2007

Comcast Corp. is in the final stages of a $400 million, four-year upgrade of its digital cable network in the Chicago area, a move that will end the cable company's delivery of analog signals to city customers by July.

After it completes the city work, Comcast will begin suburban upgrades, said Eric Schaefer, vice president of business development. That work should be completed by the end of 2008, he said.

Completion of the upgrade means all Comcast customers that have basic service will need to exchange their analog set-top boxes for digital set-top boxes. The cable company will not charge an additional fee or raise rates for current analog customers, Schaefer said.

"The vast majority of our Chicago customers already have digital service, but for the customers with basic service, they will get a new box," he said.

The rollout to all-digital begins in Chicago next week. Customers in neighborhoods that first undergo the upgrade now are being notified they need a digital box. The boxes can be picked up at a Comcast office or mailed to customers if requested.

Comcast is completing the digital upgrade to coincide with a February 2009 federal deadline that requires all broadcasters to send signals in a digital format.

Ultimately, by removing the larger analog signals from its network, Comcast will free up more space in its cables for the more efficient digital signals. That means it will be able to increase programming choices, Schaefer said.

Comcast will offer two additional high-definition channels in the coming months, he said, increasing the total to 18 HD channels. But, he added, the upgrade creates space for as many as 120 HD channels.

For high-speed Internet customers, the upgrade also should bring faster data speeds.

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