Comcast offers rapid response to digital TV transition

Comcast Corp., a Philadelphia-based provider of entertainment services, said that it is creating a “rapid response team” to perform same-day installations for New England consumers who still need a digital TV solution.

The federal government has set a June 12 deadline for the transition to all-digital television broadcasting. As a recent Globe story noted, viewers who receive TV programs over the air through an antenna will no longer be able to view these stations unless they sign up for cable or satellite TV service, buy a new TV with a built-in digital tuner, or buy a converter box, which will allow an older analog set to pick up digital signals. As of February, roughly 6 million US households lacked TV sets that can receive digital signals, according to an estimate at that time by ratings service Nielsen Co.

"Starting today through June 12, consumers who call Comcast weekdays by 12:00 p.m. can get their cable TV service installed by the newly created rapid response team the same day," Comcast said in a press release. "For calls that come in after 12:00 p.m., installation will be scheduled for the next day."

The press release included a statement from Steve Hackley, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Greater Boston Region

“We know that there are some consumers who have not yet found the right solution to continue watching their favorite broadcast TV channels after June 12,” Hackley said. “We want them to know that Comcast is one of their options, and that our rapid response team is standing by ready to make their transition as smooth, easy and affordable as possible.”

For more information on Comcast's rapid response service, please click here. To visit a federal government website about the transition to digital TV, please click here.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)