Analog to Digital Switch: Less Confusing Then You Think

On February 17, 2009, the FCC is requiring local broadcaster to send out a digital signal rather than an over-the-air analog signal. The changeover from analog to digital is presenting a lot of confusion among the many Central New Yorker and the almost 100 million TV viewers in America.

CONFUSION

Around 14.5 million people still own an antenna-powered television. These are the people that are still confused as to what to do. Many of them are senior citizens according to Time Warner Cable Spokesperson Jeff Unaitis.

“I think at this point there’s still a lot of confusion we’re hearing from a lot of elderly customers that they think they need to buy a new TV set, let along sign up for cable or get a digital tuner.”

Tiffany Lentz, a student at Syracuse University, said “I don't have a TV prepared for it, but I'm prepared, if that makes any sense.”

Confusion shouldn’t be on the agenda because there is a simple solution. The website dtv2009.org is offering coupons for anyone still with analog TV’s for a converter box. The converter box connects to the back of the TV and to your old antenna and you should be good to go. If you have digital cable or satellite, your fine.

Most of the people confused over weather to get a TV or not are the older citizens though. At the Circuit City at Carousel Center, Manager Todd McNeil said, “I think it is the older crowd that has the hardest time understanding why they're the one's that kinda get upset over it. Most of the younger generation just doesn’t worry about it and just buys a new TV."

Some senior citizens at the Ida Benderson Senior Center are both unaware about the switch and are confused about what will happen to their TV. Some said that they will not have the ability to purchase cable. “Can't afford to get any more than what I have as that's what I'm concerned being an older person on a fixed income."

ECONOMIC LOSSES

The FCC requiring the local broadcast stations to switch over to an all digital output is costing some stations in Syracuse lots of money. “Well the initial outlay was in the order of millions of dollars as it was for every other station in the area as when we begin broadcasting that,” said Kevin Wright, chief engineer of WTVH 5 in Syracuse. The FCC may approve legislation requiring broadcast stations to run four 30-minute ads daily in the hope to inform the public about the switch.

Others that stand to not gain much from the digital to analog switch are the recycling companies. The County Resource Recovery Agency hopes that people try to keep their TV’s away for the moment. “People don't have to panic and buy a new set. We can kind of keep that tsunami of old waste down to maybe just a little ripple if we all just work together,” said Tom Rhodes, Executive Director of OCRRA.

Another local business that can’t do anything with the TV’s is Jim Moltion at the Northeast Supply Company. He stands to gain nothing out of the television except for some money from the old cooper wires and the steel from the old bunny ears. “All these tubes contain about 40 percent lead and its an integral part of the glass. It's a crisis, but nobody gives.”

INFO TO KNOW

All TV’s manufactured after March 1st will be required to come with a digital signal. The FCC will send agents to senior centers. Congress has ordered the switch to digital television to free up public airwaves for police and fire departments and the analog airwaves will be auctioned off for commercial services.