Aaron62

staticMHZ

I was under the assumption that they had until 2012 to decide wether to get rid of the analog tier and make everyone get a cable box.

Comcast is already trying to get people off the analog tier and get digital (albeit standard definition or HD if you have an HD set).

They are already taking alot of channels off the analog tier and putting them on the digital lineup. They are putting up blue screens saying "If you want this channel, you must subscribe to a digital package" or some bs like that.

__________________
DTV USA Forum is not affiliated with the converter box coupon program in any way, visit http://DTV2009.gov for more info.

bicker

The regulation passed gives MSOs two ways of providing analog service, either analog itself (what you're used to, probably), or digital converted to analog by a set-top box (which they can charge a fee for).

After 2012, even that requirement may be relaxed.

HTNut

I find it ironic that MSOs have touted superior picture quality all of these years and after 6-12-09, they'll be providing analog services when OTA has transitioned to digital.

They stand to make a bit of money forcing consumers to rent a box, and with no regulation to stop that, I'm willing to be that most MSOs will be transitioned by 2012 anyway.

bicker

Well, they'll be providing both -- and the analog they're providing mostly because they're being forced to (though there are some competitive advantages to doing so).

Like I said, if they wanted to do that, they could do that now. All that changes in 2012 is that they will no longer be required to offer STBs that have analog outputs.