By Talia Mollett
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MARIETTA - Comcast customers need to get ready for round two of the digital transition.
Central Cobb residents on Comcast cable service will have to equip each television set with either a digital set-top box or digital adapter by July 14 in order to see the same television channels currently available. Customers in northeast Cobb will need the devices by around mid-August and south Cobb will make the transition in October, said Cindy Kicklighter, spokeswoman for Comcast.
Reg Griffin, vice president of communications for Comcast's southeast division, said, "We're moving up into a digital tier of channels and that is part of the secondary thing we're doing in the digital transition. It will free up more bandwidth so that we can offer more high definition channels, faster Internet speeds and better picture quality."
Customers who see a "crawl," or message across the bottom of their television programs, will need one of the two adapters, Kicklighter said.
Without the digital television adapter, Comcast customers will only be able to see basic cable channels from 2 to 26.
The good news is that the adapters are free for customers with three or fewer televisions.
"Each home will get one converter box and two digital television adapters for free," Griffin said.
An additional digital set-top box is $5.99 per month, or $1.99 per month for digital adapters.
There are three ways for residents to get the necessary digital adapters. Customers can call 1-877-634-4434, go to http://www.comcast.com/digitalnow or pick up the devices at the Comcast Center located at 270 Cobb Parkway in Marietta.
The transition will also usher in faster Internet. Customers will be able to double their megabits, Griffin said.
"This is a response to what customers have been asking for overwhelmingly. We hear they want more high definition and faster Internet speeds. It's a win-win for everyone and small obstacle to overcome for such a bonus," he said.
Comcast serves approximately 150,000 people in Cobb County, Griffin said.
