Verizon Cuts FiOS TV’s Last Analog Channels
Telco Finishes Move to All-Digital Transmission As Part of Deal With FCC
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 11/24/2008 6:36:00 AM MT
Verizon Communications said it has completely eliminated analog simulcasts of local TV channels across its 14-state FiOS TV footprint under its commitment to the Federal Communications Commission to move to all-digital transmission by February 2009.
The telco this April began phasing out the “small number” of duplicate analog channels it made available through FiOS TV, provided to customers so they could view local broadcast programming on TVs without set-top boxes.
Verizon started in New York and continued through its other territories, with Texas the final market where the changeover occurred.
In June 2007, Verizon told the FCC it would eliminate analog channels before the Feb. 17, 2009, digital TV transition. The agency granted temporary waivers to its ban on set-tops with integrated security functions, which went into effect July 1, 2007, to pay-TV providers who committed to migrating operations to all-digital.
According to the FCC, encouraging providers to eliminating analog video would "enable expanded service offerings, promote efficient use of the spectrum, deliver broadband services, spur competitive entry and expand universal service."
With the elimination of analog channels, FiOS TV customers need to have a set-top box or digital converter for every TV set on which they want to view programming unless those TVs have built-in digital QAM tuners.
Verizon provided customers one Motorola DCT700 set-top at no charge, with each additional box $3.99 per month. The DCT700s cannot receive the FiOS interactive program guide or video-on-demand services.
The company said it notified customers of the digital transition by letters, e-mails, phone calls and on-screen messages, and also set up a dedicated Web site to provide answers to common questions about the change.
Verizon counted 1.6 million FiOS TV customers as of the end of September. The TV service is currently available to more than 7 million homes in 14 states.
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