DTV Transition for Cable companies (read on for details)?

Question

Ok, I thought the DTV transition wasn't supposed to affect analog cable?

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq29

When we had FiOS installed, we though analog would keep working...but then this summer they went "all digital" and when we called for the free FiOS basic boxes (they sent out a notice that everyone would get up to 3 basic boxes) they said it was in anticipation of the 2009 DTV transition...

So I'm wondering, how many other cable-companies will do things like this?

My grandparents have Cox (I'm living with them so I can help them while I attend college) and the channels are slowley being 'migrated' to digital a few a year up to now...will they suddenly pull the plug on analog too?

Up until the FiOS switchover I wasn't concerned about the DTV transition because I always heard/read it would only affect OTA (over-the-air) customers but now I'm not so sure...

If you don't believe me about FiOS and the DTV conversion:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/11/verizon-fios-to-start-transition-to-all-digital-in-the-spring/

Answer 1

Your first assumption was wrong.  DTV transitions will be replacing analog transmissions.  After March of 2009 or whenever it is, there will no longer be any analog transmissions sent out over the air.  Now instead of an analog tuner, you will need a QAM tuner to catch this digital transmissions, or you could join the rest of the country and just get digital cable.

Answer 2

>Ok, I thought the DTV transition wasn't supposed to affect analog cable?

The 2/17/09 transition doesn't effect analog cable. OTA broadcasts are regulated by the federal government, When the Feds say shut off analog on 2/17/09, OTA broadcasters jump.

The FCC has very limited jurisdiction over cable/FIOS TV companies.

Verizon can change it's FIOS to all digital at  any time it pleases, (subject to whatever legal agreements they have signed). If you look at the Verizon page, it is inaccurate and misleading.

I'm sure they would rather imply that people should be pissed at the government rather than tell them that they have made a business decision that pisses off customers.

[from verizon page]

>"Congress has mandated that all television broadcasting be transitioned from analog to digital transmission by February 17, 2009.  "

That's not correct. The mandate is only for full power over the air broadcasts. Low power/translator stations can still broadcast in analog. And the mandate has nothing to do with cable/FIOS except that they have to supply certain local signals to analog customers until 2012. Those signals can be supplied directly or with whatever box the company wants to foist on their customers.

As to what happens after 2012, look at it this way, why would Verizon kick paying customers to the curb (and their competitors, when they could just keep supplying special cable boxes to people with analog only TVs?

Answer 3

You are correct in that the February 2009 transition only affects OTA broadcasts.  You are also correct that cable and satellite companies must still supply the local stations in analog to subscribers at least until 2012.  How a cable company achieves this is totally up to the cable company.  

What FiOS says they are doing is supplying a set top box that will convert their Cable signals to analog for subscribers that still need analog.  That meets the requirement; they will do the conversion at the set itself and the subscriber will still get analog service if needed.

So, almost all cable companies will be upgrading their systems to pass digital signals in the coming years.  However they, by law, must make sure that subscribers can still get at least the local stations in analog.

The Verizon Residential Support link you posted is a bit misleading.  The first paragraph is correct somewhat correct (full power stations go all digital, the FCC is looking at making the low power stations convert).  The second paragraph is also correct.  Posting the two together leaves an incorrect impression on the reader, though.  One doesn't have anything to do with the other.

I hope this helps.  Please return and select a Best Answer from all of those submitted.