[Russ_Boston]

TAL - I didn't read it but I see it this way:

For the (any) cable provider to get you a signal they need to acquire the signal on THEIR end and then pass it along the coax cable down to your home. Since the new signal will be digital when analog goes away the CABLE provider will need to pick up the digital signal and send it along. On your end the coax that is plugged directly into your tv will have the signal that is being sent whether it be a converted analog or direct digital. Bottom line is that your cable provider will need to make any changes not you. Some systems broadcast an 'analog' signal for channels under 100 but remember that this is the signal that is sent from Comcast etc. not over the air. They don't want to lose any customers so I imagine that they (the cable providers) will do what they need to retain the customers.

To my knowledge the only ones who will need a converter box will be those people that receive over the air analog now. The new box will convert the digital over the air signal to an input that they can use on their existing tv. If their tv can accept digital input (any tv purchased since March 2007 plus many others prior to that) then they will be OK anyway.

This is my understanding - Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.