Cable providers are trying to calm the fears of legislators concerned about confusion during the digital TV transition. The providers will not move any of their analog channels to digital tiers
until March unless they also offer free converter boxes. In letters to congressional leaders, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association says the move is designed to lessen consumer
confusion.
,br> The proposal is aimed at consumers who get cable but not digital cable. Here's how it works. After the digital transition on Feb. 17, those consumers wouldn't be able to watch
some channels on older secondary TV sets without either connecting them to digital cable or buying a converter box. The new arrangement means that if the cable consumers don't go to digital cable,
their TVs would still receive all their current channels at least through March 1.
Cable providers have been hoping many of those customers would upgrade to digital cable, which offers additional stations but can cost more than buying a converter box.
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