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Some stations dropping analog signal Tuesday Date published: 2/15/2009
BY BILL FREEHLING
Most broadcast TV stations that air in the Fredericksburg area will continue analog service after Tuesday, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Congress had initially set Tuesday as the deadline for the mandatory switch to digital-only television, but that was recently changed to June 12 amid concern that millions of Americans were unprepared for the switch. Most Americans won't be affected by the switch because they get cable or satellite TV. But about 20 million U.S. households rely on free over-the-air TV using antennas and rabbit ears, according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. Millions of those have already prepared for the switch by purchasing televisions with built-in digital tuners or set-top digital-to-analog converter boxes. A government program that provided consumers with $40 coupons for purchasing converter boxes ran out of money, although the pending economic stimulus plan includes $650 million for it. Local stations have been allowed to ask the FCC to switch over to an all-digital broadcast before the new June 12 deadline. About 681 stations nationwide have indicated they plan to end analog broadcasts by Tuesday, according to the FCC. Ten of those stations are in Virginia or Washington, according to the FCC's Web site. On the list is WRLH-TV, a FOX station in Richmond. In an e-mail, WRLH station general manager Steve Genett noted that Tuesday was the date that consumers for months have been told would be the switch date. "This station plans on keeping to the original February date in order to avoid additional confusion," Genett said. "Many consumers have already made the necessary adjustments for the transition." The FCC is requiring stations that plan to end analog service Tuesday to provide viewer notifications and continuous crawls before they terminate. The FCC notes that two-thirds of U.S. stations will remain on the air providing analog service beyond Tuesday. Stations continuing their analog service after Tuesday may still decide to end the service before June 12, however. The transition has caused headaches for many Fredericksburg-area people who use free TV, according to a half-dozen interviews. Their issues have included not being able to get government coupons for the converter boxes, having difficulty connecting the boxes, picking up signals from only foreign stations and losing their signals during broadcasts. More information about the digital conversion proc-ess is at DTV.gov. Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Date published: 2/15/2009
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