I sure do appreciate all the work Larry Kall did to keep us informed on matters such as the coming cable TV conversion to digital and the changeover to different kinds of Freon in refrigerators and air-conditioners. I am sorry to hear of his sudden passing, a great loss to the Village.
I still do not understand what will be involved in the switch to digital TV next February, though. In the June UCO Reporter, Larry’s article included a copy of a fax sent him by a Comcast spokesperson in Philadelphia, saying, “there should be no impact whatsoever on Comcast customers.” The fax went on to say, “…we will convert the new broadcast digital signals back into analog signals at our headends so that customers who do not have or want a digital box or new TV will continue to receive the channels in the same way they receive them today without having to do anything.”
In the July Reporter, there seems to be no reference to this. Instead, it speaks of the necessity for set-top boxes, even if one buys a new digital TV, although it goes on to say that the set-top boxes will be built into some of the new digital TVs. The August Reporter also says a set-top box will be required for each TV set. As I understand it, there will be a charge for set-top boxes.
In the August 11 Palm Beach Post (Local Business section), however, there was a lengthy article on the changeover to digital in which it said that only persons with rabbit ears TVs would be affected. It said: “The [digital] switch applies only to TV viewers who still get their programs over the air,” and two sentences later, “The other 83% subscribe to cable or satellite TV.” The article was titled “Rabbit Ears TV Watchers Are Getting Ready for the Digital Switch.”
I know you are working on this matter, Dave Israel, and we certainly appreciate your stepping in to carry on following Larry Kall’s good work, but can you clarify where the Village stands with this? Most of us in the Village have cable TV. As the Post article suggests, will the digital changeover NOT affect those of us who have cable? Or will we, for some reason peculiar to the Village, still require set-top boxes, for which we’ll have to pay? And if set-top boxes will be required, can these only be rented (by the Village as a whole and/or individuals), or can they be bought outright?
Thank you.
Lanny Howe
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Cable TV Changeover to Digital
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L come to Friday Delegate Mtg - Dave's previous post - Following are the Official Minutes of the first meeting of the Cable Committee that I Chaired; attendance was good with about 20 Unit Owners and UCO Officers in attendance. There was a good exchange of views with the COMCAST POC and many questions were raised and ideas surfaced.
We look forward to such productive meetings in future.
Dave Israel
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CABLE COMMITTEE MEETING - MINUTES - AUGUST 14, 2008
DAVE ISRAEL, Chair
ATTENDANCE - attached:
Dave welcomed all guests and introduced the members of the Cable Committee, the UCO Officers, and Christine Saxon the representative from Comcast.
Christine reported that the February 17, 2009 digital transition will not affect cable TV customers. At this time Century Village West Palm Beach does not have to do anything.
However the cable company will be moving some channels from analog to digital. In this way they will be able to provide more channels and services. A box will be required for more services such as Video-on-Demand.
Many questions and much discussion followed for which Christine will get the answers and address at the Delegate Assembly.
How many and what channels will be available at no extra cost to residents?
What about units with more than one TV? Will there be a charge of $3.40 for a box for each TV?
Need In writing from Comcast what channels will be available without a box.
Since UCO's contract (which runs to 2010) with Comcast calls for 70 channels, what reduction will be given if we receive fewer channels? Each unit is now paying $20.55.
How many units in Century Village now have a Set-Top-Box? We have a total of 7,854 apartments.
Christine was invited to address the Delegate Assembly on Friday, September 5th. She will give us other information re high speed internet, etc. (Handouts will be available in the UCO office) Christine will confirm this date.
"Recent notes on the CV Cable TV project" prepared by Dave Israel, which included the Comcast channel line up was distributed to the committee,
These minutes were taken by Mary Patrick Benton.
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