Despite delays, digital conversion will take place Feb. 17

Those with cable and satellite will not be affected by the change.

By Amanda Wysocki

Published Jan. 30, 2009

Due to the failure of legislation proposed in Congress, the upcoming switch to digital television will continue as planned on Feb. 17.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va., crafted the bill, which passed through the Senate but failed in the House on Wednesday. Republicans primarily voted against the delay.

Rep. JoAnn Emerson, R-Mo., was one of 22 Republicans to vote in support of the bill.

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., of the 9th District, which encompasses Columbia, voted against the bill because he was concerned that changing the planned conversion date would cause confusion, spokesman Paul Sloca said.

Because the funds to provide coupons for digital converter boxes have run dry, President Barack Obama requested that Congress vote to hold off on the switch until there was more money to help ease the cost of the boxes.

As of now anyone using a solely analog set will no longer get signal from television stations beginning Feb. 17.

"All the current analog signals will be switched off," said Don Hicks, president and CEO of the Missouri Broadcasters Association. "All that spectrum devoted to analog signals will be returned to the federal government, which has already sold that spectrum to other users. There is also a significant amount that has been given to emergency response units."

The switch will not affect any students living on campus since all the residential halls already use cable. Anyone using cable or satellite will not be affected.

"Basically, the analog waves transmitted will no longer be transmitted," Pamela Anderson, marketing communication manager for CenturyTel, said.

Anderson also said anyone using CenturyTel's IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, would not be affected by the switchover.

There were several driving reasons for the switch, Hicks said.

"The digital picture is a much clearer and sharper image," Hicks said. "Because you can compress a digital signal, it allows each station to broadcast additional video services."

In addition to amount of information that a digital signal can broadcast, the need for additional bandwidth also played a significant factor.

"That analog spectrum was needed for other purposes, such as for emergency responders," Hicks said. "They needed a broad, seamless swath of the spectrum that remained constant throughout the United States, especially with regard to homeland security. Also, cell phone usage has grown. People can download video, which requires lots of bandwidth. So, there is need for lots of spectrum."

Several networks in the Columbia area, including KOMU/Channel 8, KRCG/Channel 13 and KMIZ/Channel 17 already broadcast in digital.

"All we are going to do is shut down the analog transmitter," Ladd Egan, director of news at KRCG, said. "It's mostly on the viewer end that things have to be prepared for."

Despite all the information that has been released about the digital switchover, there are still many people confused about what will happen, Egan said.

"It's not very well-understood and that's why people are hesitant to see the transfer happen on the 17th," Egan said. "We are worried about the viewers and if they have understood everything and have it ready on their own end."

Most sets should still receive a signal after the switch.

"Most people are using an analog signal, even if they have a digital tuner," Hicks said. "Most people will not see any differences. The picture may just be brighter or clearer. If they subscribe to cable or satellite, their provider should take care of everything for them."

Although television stations will save some money due to the change, it will not be a huge amount.

"The digital signal is more modern, and so it's the wave of the future," Egan said. "I don't think the power cost will be much of a benefit to us. We could keep both the analog and digital signals going, but the law mandates us to shut down the analog signal."