It’s February 17^th, 2009, the original date set by Congress for all full-power television stations to turn off their analog transmitters and complete the transition to digital television.

However, fearing a major disruption of access to local news and weather with millions of viewers still unprepared for the transition, Congress delayed the deadline to June 12^th. In the ensuing days, the FCC has been trying to ascertain which stations needed to go through with the February deadline, and which would continue their analog feed until the June date.

Here’s where we stand in the Erie DMA:

• WICU-12 (NBC) – continuing analog until June 12^th
• WJET-24 (ABC) – continuing analog until sometime in April
• WSEE-35 (CBS) – will shut off their analog today (2/17)
• WQLN-54 (PBS) – analog has been off since Sept. 15, 2008 due to wind damage to their transmission system
• WFXP-66 (FOX) – continuing analog until June 12^th

With WSEE getting voted off of the “analog island”, it could mean headaches from a small yet substantial percentage of their viewers. We’ll monitor the situation of how many Erie viewers will not be ready to pick up Survivor or 60 Minutes on the digital signal.

Some good digital news comes from Dwight Miller of WQLN: the long recovery process from their wind-damaged transmission system should be complete over the next few days. They will be activating their full-power all-digital signal this week as tower climbers erect the new system and regain a full footprint that has been hampered since September.

Reset the clock to June 12^th as one deadline passes and another one comes into view.