Questions Remain Despite Likely DTV Delay

While delaying the mandatory switch to digital TV may have some breathing easier, there still are plenty of challenges ahead.

"Having the extra time is a gift, but it is a limited gift," said Sandy Markwood, CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

A bill that extends the deadline for the transition from midnight Feb. 17 to June 12 is expected to be signed into law. But stations can make the switch earlier if they want.

Out of the nearly 1,800 full-power stations in the U.S., 133 have already made the switch. As of Friday, another 60 had told the FCC they plan to change to DTV before Feb. 17 and 272 were planning to ditch analog on the original date.

The number of stations making the switch on the original date is likely to grow, FCC staff cautioned. The FCC is asking all stations to file their intentions by Monday.

When stations make the switch, they will still run a "night light" video on their old analog signals explaining the switch and what consumers need to do to get a DTV signal.

Challenges Remain

But even if more stations decide to take advantage of the delay, that won't solve all the problems.

"Regardless of when stations make the switch, many people will be left behind," FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell said during a hearing Thursday on the change.

While most people he met at forums held across the country seemed to realize a change was coming, many of them weren't exactly sure what that change was, he said.

McDowell said the delay is important because many questions remain, including whether there are enough converter boxes to go around and if call centers can handle the volume of calls expected after the change.

Most likely to be caught up in the switch are seniors, those on fixed incomes and non-English speakers, said Tony Wilhelm, consumer education director with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Even those people who think they are ready for the DTV switch could find themselves without a signal.

"We've seen people who have done everything they were supposed to," said Mark Lloyd of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. "They got the box, converter and antenna and still can't get the signal they used to."

Each Area Unique

Muddling the situation even further are the unique characteristics of each region when it comes to receiving digital signals.

Mountainous areas will have pockets that used to get signals using only traditional "rabbit ears" antenna that won't be able to receive the new signal without changing the antenna.

Meanwhile, some Las Vegas homes constructed with stucco and chicken wire will produce a shielding effect, blocking the signal and necessitating a roof-top antenna, McDowell said.

Some viewers will also fall prey to the so-called "digital cliff" issue.

While traditional analog signals fade out the further you get from the transmitter, resulting in a fuzzy picture, digital signals completely drop off at a certain point.

Viewers who live beyond that "cliff" won't see a static-filled picture but rather a blue screen after the change.

Some areas may also find themselves outside the traditional broadcast area for stations as some take the opportunity to move their transmitters. While most stations will see their viewing area grow, some could see it shift or even shrink based on those factors.

The FCC's Web site features maps showing the signal limits for every full-power station in the United States.

Those maps can help viewers figure out where they will stand after the switch, but an even better option is to simply set up your digital equipment early.

"It's hard to tell if you need an antenna or what kind of antenna you need without connecting your existing setup to find out if it works," said Julius Knapp, engineering chief with the FCC.