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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
 ·Comcast
| Digital Conversion 2009 My parents have cable service with Comcast, but no digital service that require the digital box. They connect directly to the wall outlet.
Comcast is telling them that come 2009, they need to either get the digital box from them, or a converter. But the government tells them that it only affects customers who receive channels OTA.
Will my parents be affected or not?
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www.rr.cx | YourIP.US | MySite.cx | |
|  | badshot23
join:2004-10-05
Independence, MO
| I just recently moved to a Comcast area, and my fiancee called in to order tv and internet service. She was forced into taking their digital starter package for TV service, the rep claiming that "everyone will need one."
In talking with the rep while exchanging the handy dandy converter box, he disclosed that "come Feb 2009, everyone will need a digital box, and not just on Comcast, it's a federal mandate." I pointed out to him it's just for OTA, and he was rather adamant it applied to everyone, cable, antenna, satellite, etc. Suffice it to say I left it alone at that, but it sounds like a great bunch of misinformation to hand out to their customers.
Although I imagine it would probably be as good a time as any to drop analog and go all digital. | |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| Re: Digital Conversion 2009 said by badshot23  :I just recently moved to a Comcast area, and my fiancee called in to order tv and internet service. She was forced into taking their digital starter package for TV service, the rep claiming that "everyone will need one." In talking with the rep while exchanging the handy dandy converter box, he disclosed that "come Feb 2009, everyone will need a digital box, and not just on Comcast, it's a federal mandate." I pointed out to him it's just for OTA, and he was rather adamant it applied to everyone, cable, antenna, satellite, etc. Suffice it to say I left it alone at that, but it sounds like a great bunch of misinformation to hand out to their customers. Although I imagine it would probably be as good a time as any to drop analog and go all digital. My parents prefer the simplicity of using the cable tv without the need of the box. I agree that it would be a good time, but I just don't think it's right for them to be given misinformed information. | |
| jwhite4
join:2002-03-21
Philadelphia, PA
| I think the real truth is that Comcast isn't phasing out analog cable broadcasts Feb09 like OTA will be, but for new customers, they must get a digital set top box. I know in Phila, plenty of analog boxes are still in use, but you couldn't get a new one if you wanted, and they seem to have an ongoing plan to phase out analog broadcast.
Jeff | |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| Re: Digital Conversion 2009 said by jwhite4 : I think the real truth is that Comcast isn't phasing out analog cable broadcasts Feb09 like OTA will be, but for new customers, they must get a digital set top box. I know in Phila, plenty of analog boxes are still in use, but you couldn't get a new one if you wanted, and they seem to have an ongoing plan to phase out analog broadcast. Jeff My parents don't have an analog box. They don't have any set top boxes, they just connect directly to the wall outlet. | |
| | | badshot23
join:2004-10-05
Independence, MO
| Re: Digital Conversion 2009 I know all to well about trying to get that commission, I used to work for TWC and saw a good deal of that going on then.
Given the conversation that took place with the rep taking our order here with Comcast, I went ahead and took a look at the website, and it's no longer listing the expanded basic as an option. | |
| | 
Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | They do not get any commission. | |
| | | NSurgnie
join:2007-12-14
Beaverton, OR
| Re: Digital Conversion 2009 said by Cozmo85 :
The FCC requires cable providers to provide analog cable service till 2012
This requirement is for the local network channels. Nothing else. Be ready for digital transitions. Slowly block by block (3-10 channels at a time) these non-local network channels will be gone from analog signals, requiring you to have a STB to receive that channel.
ESPN, CNN, TNT, USA, Sci, and everything that isn't your BASIC local channels, will be going away, more than likely sooner than later. | |
| | | 
nascar
join:2000-02-28
Verona, NJ
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| Re: Digital Conversion 2009 said by NSurgnie : said by Cozmo85 :
The FCC requires cable providers to provide analog cable service till 2012
This requirement is for the local network channels. Nothing else. Be ready for digital transitions. Slowly block by block (3-10 channels at a time) these non-local network channels will be gone from analog signals, requiring you to have a STB to receive that channel. ESPN, CNN, TNT, USA, Sci, and everything that isn't your BASIC local channels, will be going away, more than likely sooner than later. Best Answer. And this is the truth.
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Comcast of NJ II - Union/Verona | |
| | | | bicker
join:2007-05-10
Burlington, MA
·Verizon FIOS
| Re: Digital Conversion 2009 Also, note that when the FCC required that cable providers provide analog service for local broadcast channels until 2012, they gave them TWO options:
1) Send analog signals through the cable so no STB was necessary; or
2) Send digital signals through the cable and require a STB to be used, ensuring that there are STBs available with analog outputs.
The FCC further went on to clarify that "Any costs related to [that] will be determined by the cable company."
This was one of the very few big wins for the cable companies during the reign of Kevin Martin as chief of the FCC. Martin in well-known as a critic of cable companies and has typically managed to get regulations passed that were onerous on cable... he lost this time. | |
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