The Switch to digital

Syracuse, NY: If you think you will need to buy a brand new TV in order to watch TV next year, you’re wrong. With TV set to be broadcast solely in digital come next February, most people won’t even notice the change.

The switch to digital means people who receive television programming from their rooftop antennas or rabbit ears will need to buy a converter box or else their picture will disappear. Those with cable or satellite won’t have to do a thing.

Nick Palmisano is a TV repairman in Syracuse, and he said that he gets several calls a week from confused customers.

[“I had a lady come in here yesterday almost in tears. She said ‘My TV won’t work anymore.’ And I said ‘Do you have cable?’ And she said ‘Yes.’ And I said ‘It’ll work.’ And she said, ‘You made my day.’”] Nick Palmisano

One company benefiting from the switch is Time Warner Cable. They say the switch to digital gives them the opportunity to attract new customers. But they say it doesn’t mean they’ll be extending their service to not currently serviced.

[“State law requires us to provide cable where there are 35 homes per square mile, and that’s not going to change.”] Jeff Unaitis- Time Warner Cable

That’s bad news for Robert Denton, who lives outside of the village of Volney. Denton cannot get cable, and refuses to install a satellite dish. He is just one resident who is not happy about the switch to digital.

For Denton the switch to digital could get kind of pricey. He owns five television sets. All would need a converter box.

“For me the options are to throw out my TV’s and don’t even use them, or go digital. So I’m really angry about digital.” [Robert Denton]

And it’s that kind of throwaway mentality that has the government nervous... It is estimated that nationwide 21 million households still receive their TV from an antenna. In Central New York that translates into about 55 thousand homes. That means thousand of old TV’s could soon flood the landfills.

Jim Moltion owns Northeast Supplies and Materials, and he is very concerned about the switch to digital. He said the government needs to mandate what to do with the old TV’s, or else it could do harm to the environment. There are more than 75 old TV sets just sitting in his warehouse. He has no plans of taking them apart.

The Onondaga County Recovery and Recycling Agency (OCRRA) is trying to help. They have arranged a TV drop off day at Alliance Bank Stadium on April 19^th. They hope this will discourage residents from throwing their TV’s in the trash.

For those opting to keep their old TV’s, people wanting to watch TV thru their antenna will need to buy a converter box. The government is offering two $40 coupons (per household) toward the purchase of the converter boxes. If you have more questions about the switch to digital, or want to apply for the coupons, visit the DTV transition website.