[Discuss] Comcast gets rid of the remaining analog channels

[gaf at blu.org (Jerry Feldman)]

On 03/20/2012 03:34 PM, Tom Metro wrote:
> Tom Metro wrote:
>> I received a letter this past week that Comcast is getting rid of the
>> remaining analog channels on their Newton/Needham system (other towns
>> likely to do likewise). After their "digital conversion" a while back
>> they continued to transmit the "basic" channels (largely local
>> broadcast) in analog, but by March 13 will be strictly digital.
> This change was finally implemented last night, it appears. I can
> confirm that my MythTV analog tuners see nothing but snow. Even the home
> shopping channel is gone. :-)
>
> The engineer flipping the switch seems to have a sense of humor, as it
> was timed almost exactly to correspond to the start of Spring[1] at 1:14
> AM this morning.
>
> There was no follow-up reminder letter, no on-screen crawls or messages
> at the top of the half-hour, like they did with the discontinuation of
> analog "extended basic" channels. No explanation for the delay from
> March 13.
>
> I'm still not clear as to whether this change is even permitted under
> the FCC rules. The articles from February where Boxee complained about
> the FCC pondering a changes to its rules implies it is not permitted.
>
>  -Tom
>
> 1. http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/march-equinox.html
>
They do provide up to 2 DTAs at no cost. I think this (at least to
Comcast, RCN, and others, covers the rules.

-- 
Jerry Feldman <gaf at blu.org>
Boston Linux and Unix
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