TV switch limits some in rural areas

To the editor:

The “Tuned in?” article on the front page of Frontiersman’s Jan. 27 issue left out some critical information. Each of the broadcast stations say they are currently transmitting digital signals. Most places in the Mat-Su Valley currently receive VHF broadcast analog channels 2,4,5,7,11 and 13. When these stations switch to digital only channel 2,7 and 13 will still be on VHF channels. Channels 4,5 and 11 will be switching to UHF channels and will not have the same coverage area as their old VHF channels. Many people, like myself, only had VHF TV antennas. On the VHF antenna I can nicely receive the digital stations 2,7 and 13.

I purchased a long UHF antenna and a mast-mounted preamplifier, and still cannot receive the UHF digital stations 4,5 and 11. I’ve phoned each of the stations that are going to UHF frequencies. One of the engineers stated that they are not required to broadcast digital signals to the same areas that they served with analog signals. He said the cost to serve all the Valley that used to receive analog signals, is too expensive for the station as their main advertising service area is Anchorage.

Unless customers want to pay a monthly price for cable, satellite, or MTA DTV, many Valley residents will have our free broadcast television stations reduced by half. This is a common problem through out America’s rural areas. I urge people to contact their Congressional representative about this problem and ask them to require digital service to be at least equal to the analog service.

George Strother

Wasilla