The publication reports that the FCC is expected to announce today that local broadcast stations in Wilmington will switch from analog to digital on September 8, 2008 -- five months before the required switchover date of February 17, 2009.
The early switchover is designed to test the effectiveness of the transition as it might apply nationwide. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, encouraged by agency Democrats, has been seeking a test city; Martin is from North Carolina.
Wilmington Mayor William Safflo tells Multichannel News that local stations in his city have been working on an early digital switch for a few months. But now the city will have to educate local residents about the need to prepare for the transition.
When the local stations switch to digital, viewers will need a Digital TV, a pay TV subscription or a digital converter box to continue watching television.
"We're going to be number one in the country," he said. "We want to make sure that all the questions that our citizens are going to ask be addressed, that we get all the information out there so they understand about the coupons and converter boxes, about what will happen and when."
Saffo expressed some concern that the test will occur during Wilmington's hurricane season.
"I want to make sure that the FCC is going to be here. I'm sure I am going to be getting a lot of calls, although it wasn't my decision, " he told Multichannel News. "But since I am going to be part of the process, it is important that the FCC get people on the ground as quickly as possible."
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