Analog customers of Comcast Cable in Baltimore County have a choice this month: Upgrade to digital cable for free or lose some channels.

As of Nov. 17, the cable company has scaled back its analog service in an effort to free up bandwidth to provide faster Internet service, more videos on demand and 40 more high definition channels.

"The world's going digital," said Alisha Martin, a Comcast spokeswoman. "One analog channel uses the same bandwidth as 10 digital channels or three HD channels. These changes are going to allow us to triple the amount of space on our network."

To encourage analog customers -- who receive their television signal by plugging directly into a wall versus using a cable box -- to switch to digital, the company is providing users in Baltimore County with digital equipment for up to three televisions at no cost, Martin said.

"We're really making it as easy as possible for our customers," she said.

Martin said that 85 percent of Comcast customers already use digital cable and therefore will be unaffected by the change.

Analog cable users who receive only the most basic package of stations will be unaffected. Those customers who have what Comcast calls "Expanded Basic" analog -- basic channels, such as local stations, plus some extra stations -- will be the ones affected, she said.

"As soon as Expanded Basic customers connect their digital devices, they will receive more than 25 additional digital channels beyond the Expanded Basic channels they were already receiving, and digital quality picture and sound on all channels," she said.

The first round of changes in Baltimore County was to take place around Nov. 17, while a second round will go into effect around Dec. 17. After the bandwidth is freed up, Comcast will launch more than 40 new high definition channels around Nov. 28, Martin said.

"This is being introduced neighborhood by neighborhood across the country," she said.

Martin added that jurisdictions, such as Baltimore City or Howard County, are not scheduled to undergo the changes.

Those wishing to make the upgrade can pick up a self-installation kit at a local Comcast service center.

The centers are located at 5801 Metro Drive in Baltimore; 8029 Corporate Drive in White Marsh; or 7195 Troy Hill Drive in Elkridge.

To order one, call 1-877-634-4434 or go to www.comcast.com/digitalnow.

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user comments (1)

user davidoftowson says...

I'm not sure that those boxes are exactly free. I had Comcast ship one to me for "$0.00" when the digital change was announced, and if I've correctly understood subsequent mail from them, I'll now be paying a new monthly "rental" charge on the box. It's a small charge, but a recurring one.

Posted 8:33 PM, 11.18.09

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