Local stations won't delay digital switch

Despite a House vote Wednesday to postpone the required shutdownof analog TV signals, local television stations serving the CedarRapids/Waterloo/Dubuque/Iowa City television market will convert todigital-only broadcasting on Tuesday, Feb. 17.The announcement wasmade jointly Wednesday by KWWL, KCRG, KGAN, KFXA and KFXB.As opposedto mandating a shutdown now or in the near future, the U.S. Housevoted 264-158 to give television stations the option to continuetransmitting analog TV signals until June 12, to address growingconcerns that too many Americans won't be ready in time for the Feb.17 deadline that Congress set three years ago. The Senate passed themeasure unanimously last week, and the bill now heads to PresidentBarack Obama for his signature.In a joint statement, representativesfrom the local stations said their research indicates that fewerthan 1 percent of the households in the market are not yet preparedfor the conversion from analog to digital. The stations said theywould be ready to answer any questions viewers might have about thedigital conversion through their Web sites and via phone calls tothe stations during business hours."The stations in this market havedone an outstanding job of educating the public to this conversionand that it would occur on Feb. 17," said Kim Leer, station managerat KWWL. "We greatly appreciate members of Congress for providingstations the flexibility to convert in February as we believe ourviewers are ready.""Viewers who watch us via satellite or on cabledon't have to do anything," said Jarrett Liddicoat, chief engineerat KWWL. "It is those who watch over the air with an antenna whoneed to purchase a converter box or a television set with a digitaltuner."It is anticipated that the stations will transition todigital-only broadcasting between noon and 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 17.Each station will be informing their viewers of the exact time ofthe switch through station announcements and newscasts.The change isbeing required because digital signals are more efficient thananalog, and ending analog will free up valuable space in thenation's airwaves.However, the Nielsen Co. estimates that more than6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog TV sets to pick upover-the-air broadcast signals still are not ready."The passage ofthis bipartisan legislation means that millions of Americans willhave the time they need to prepare for the conversion," the WhiteHouse said in a statement. "We will continue to work with Congressto improve the information and assistance available to Americanconsumers in advance of June 12, especially those in the mostvulnerable communities."Wednesday's vote came one week after HouseRepublicans blocked the bill under a special fast-track procedurethat required two-thirds support to pass. This time, the bill passedthe House under a regular floor vote, which only requires a simplemajority."If almost 6 percent of the nation's households lose all TVservice, I think most people would declare the digital TV transitionto be a failure," said Rick Boucher, D-Va., chairman of HouseCommerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology andthe Internet.Opponents of a delay warned, however, that the movewill confuse consumers, create added costs for television stationsthat would continue broadcasting both analog and digital signals forfour more months, and burden wireless companies and public safetyagencies waiting for the airwaves that will be freed up by theswitchover.Democrats have tried to address these concerns byallowing broadcast stations to make the switch to digital signalssooner than the June deadline if they choose. It is unclear how manyTV stations plan to take advantage of this option.