Digital TV conversion July 21

Saturday’s nationwide switch to digital television from analog didn’t happen in Boundary County.

Resident who rely on rabbit ears and antennas for television service can expect that switch on July 21.

A federal law that requiring the switch at 12:01 a.m. June 13 did not apply to low-power broadcasters or translators, said Michael Listman, chairman for Boundary County Translator District.

As a trail, the local translator district earlier this year switched over PBS channel 32 to digital channel 7.

“We did that in February to give people the opportunity to test their equipment,” Listman said. “A lot of antennas had to be upgraded even if they had a digital-ready TV.”

He estimates that 75 percent of the 1,500 residents who do not have cable or satellite TV services did not have to upgrade antennas.

The switch gave viewers two extra PBS stations. They also got the PBS World, a 24-hour digital channel showing documentaries, current affairs and history programs, and PBS Create, which features arts and crafts and cooking.

The translator district on July 21 will meet on Black Mountain, where the tower with equipment is located. That’s when the switch is expected to take place, Listman said.

“We could have intermittent outages as we swap out the equipment on Black Mountain, he said.

Viewers at that point will also get ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

The translator district’s cost of making changes is approaching $200,000, Listman said. The board received a $25,000 federal grant and is pursuing another $86,000 to help cover costs.

All county property owers pay $10 a year per parcel to find the translator district.