Friday May 9

City to hold workshops on digital TV conversion

Anne Ward Ernst / Bay City News

People who will be affected by the digital television conversion next year can get help learning about converter boxes at free monthly workshops hosted by the city of Palo Alto.

The Federal Communications Commission set Feb. 17, 2009, as a cessation date for analog broadcasts, requiring the switch to digital transmission.

A converter box will be needed to view the free public broadcasting viewers now receive with an antenna, and for analog television using cable or satellite, viewers may need a set-top box to convert the digital signal to analog.

To help people understand the digital TV transition and learn how to connect a converter box, the city of Palo Alto is hosting free workshops every second Wednesday of each month from now through December. The workshops are open to anyone, not just residents of Palo Alto.

The workshop will include a demonstration of how to set up the box and how to use the remote control.

Gary Lindgren, a volunteer who will be conducting the workshops, recently switched to viewing through the converter box in his own home and said the video quality is good.

Households may be able to receive coupons worth $40 each to apply toward the purchase of a converter box.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is responsible for administering the coupons.

Workshops will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Community Media Center, located at 900 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto. The next workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, and seats are available.

To reserve a seat at one of the workshops, call 650-494-8686 ext. 10.