According to the FCC, the February 17, 2009 deadline for the DTV transition only applies to full-power broadcast stations. Cable companies are not required to transition their systems to digital and can continue to deliver channels to their customers in analog; in fact, they are actually required by FCC rules to continue offering local broadcast stations to their customers in analog as long as they offer any analog service. This requirement will continue for at least three years after February 17, 2009, and the FCC will decide in 2011 whether the requirement should be continued beyond February 17, 2012. This means that customers who receive analog cable service (without a cable set-top box) will be able to continue to do so.
However, to keep pace with current technology and customer demand, and in an effort to deliver better quality and broader content choices, it is very likely cable companies will begin to transition to all-digital service. Under the FCC’s DTV transition plan, if a cable company makes the business decision to go all-digital (meaning it will stop offering any channels to its customers in analog), it must ensure its analog customers can continue to watch their local broadcast stations. However, this will likely require these customers still using analog TV sets to either upgrade or purchase a set-top box; in many cases this will be at the discretion (and price) of the individual cable provider.
For most people who are reluctant to give up their current analog TV or service, the best (and cheapest) long-term bet is to take advantage of the NTIA set-top converter coupon program.
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