Digital changes cause confusion

The government's new digital conversion campaign is causing lots of confusion.

The facts are simple. After midnight, on February 17, 2009, television stations will only be allowed to broadcast their programing in digital format. In actuality, very few people will be affected by the conversion to digital broadcasting, and for most the transition will be transparent.

If you currently use satellite or digital cable to receive your broadcasts, the conversion will not affect your viewing in any way and you will never notice the change. However, if you have an older analog TV and receive your broadcasts by either antenna or analog cable that does not use a set-top box, you will be faced with making some changes.

Currently, the cable provider in the area offers both analog and digital broadcasts but will be eliminating the analog signal from its network at the end of this year. At present, less than 18 percent of subscribers receive an analog signal, according to John Farwell, vice-president of business operations for BendBroadband.

"We have been working to get people converted to digital over the last two years. We used to have less than 50 percent digital subscribers; now it is around 82 percent," he said.

Folks who have analog cable have an easy solution. Merely call BendBroadband and order the digital set-top box that is available for a rental rate of about two dollars per month.

The selection of programming packages is much greater, and some are even less expensive than the analogue package. BendBroadband's current promotion even provides free installation of the box.

"The box we will provide takes care of everything. The customer will only need the one box, and they can continue to watch just like they always have," said Farwell.

Folks who still receive their broadcasts with an antenna will face more of a challenge if their TV is analog. The television will require a converter box to function after the middle of February next year. Such boxes are available at numerous retail locations, including Sisters Electronics (RadioShack).

"I just got the boxes in, and they will be priced at $59.99. The boxes that I have are Zenith, and all the different boxes are about the same price," said Tom Craven, the owner of Sisters Electronics.

The government has a program to help folks with the conversion to digital. By calling 1-888-DTV-2009 or going to http://www.dtv2009.gov, individuals may apply for a $40 coupon to be used against the purchase price of the box. The coupons are good for 90 days and are accepted at Sisters Electronics.

"All they have to do is bring in the coupon and pay the difference between $40 and the price of the box," said Craven.

The more expensive alternative is to purchase a digital TV. However, since prices are dropping constantly on digital televisions, some folks may elect to collect the government coupon for the converter box and wait until television prices fall to more affordable levels.