News / Consolidated Communications Digital TV ready for Digital TV transition

MATTOON - Consolidated Communications announced today that its Digital TV service is ready for the upcoming digital TV transition. When stations stop broadcasting in analog signals, all of the company’s Digital TV service customers will be able to receive the digital signal.

 

Stations could begin making that switch from analog to all-digital signals as early as Tuesday, Feb. 17, which was the original deadline set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the switch. That deadline was extended this month to June 12 to give consumers more time to prepare for the transition.

 

Rob Koester, Senior Manager, Broadband Services, said Consolidated Communications is prepared, no matter when the individual stations stop broadcasting analog signals. To prepare for the transition, the company had to upgrade its facilities by installing digital receivers and other equipment accompanied with software upgrades.

 

"Our customers can be assured that Consolidated Communications has prepared for this digital transition to be sure our customers receive quality broadcasts, whether the change occurs on Feb. 17, or as late as June 12," Koester said.

In 1996, the U.S. Congress initiated the digital transition by authorizing the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analog broadcast channel. Congress recently set June 12, 2009 as the final date that full-power television stations must broadcast in digital only.

 

If you have questions about Consolidated’s Digital TV service, contact the company at 1-800-553-9981 or visit the company’s Web site at www.consolidated.com.