For months now, we have been warned about the upcoming digital TV conversion and the loss of the analog signal in February 2009. I have been trying to watch the Olympics these past two weeks on my brand new HDTV and the all-too-frequent loss of the digital signal has resulted in watching the Olympics on the analog station instead.

I can’t imagine how frustrated I would have been if that analog station wasn’t available. The digital signal on the CBS, ABC, and Fox networks haven’t faired much better. Of course, the local cable company blames the local affiliate and the local affiliate blames the network.

Isn’t this eerily similar to the loss of dependable service that was experienced when cell phones switched to digital service? Perhaps TV should try to do it better because I doubt that loss of programming will be tolerated similarly to a dropped call. As I write this, the digital feed for the Olympics has been lost for 20 minutes and has not yet returned. Oh, I can’t wait for February 2009!

Bruce Rioux

Millinocket