Digital Transition / Digital Television (DTV)
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• What does the digital (DTV) transition mean?

On February 18, 2009, all broadcast channels (i.e. NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX) will stop transmitting over the air their analog TV signal and broadcast only a digital TV signal. As a Northland customer, you will NOT be affected by the transition.

• What do I need to do to prepare for this transition?

Northland customers will not need to do anything. You will continue to be able to use ALL of your existing TV sets. We will take care of converting the signals and sending them to you exactly the same as we do now. In fact, we are already carrying many broadcasters' digital TV signals.

• What is the difference between analog TV and digital TV signals?

Crisper picture quality, sharper sound and eventually more channels.

• Why are the broadcasters switching to digital signals?

The government has mandated this transition to free up the analog frequencies ("airwaves") used by broadcasters so that public service agencies and emergency responders can have dedicated "airwaves" for their use.

• Do I need to buy or lease any equipment to receive digital signals?

No. As a Northland customer, no additional equipment will be necessary.

• Do I need to replace my television sets to view DTV?

No. As a Northland customer, you can continue using any of your television sets.

• Will my cable bill be affected by this transition?

No.

• So why all the fuss about the digital transition?

The digital transition will impact ONLY viewers who receive TV signals via an antenna. Without an additional adapter or converter, older TV sets will no longer be able to receive the signals once the transition is complete. All new TV sets are required to have a new digital tuner that will be able to receive over the air digital TV signals. Regardless of whether you have an old or new TV set, as a Northland customer you can relax and let us do the work.

For more information on Digital Television and the Digital Transition, the FCC has setup an informational website: www.dtv.gov

General
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• Who can I contact about a question regarding my bill?

For billing support please complete the Find Local Office form to the right to obtain contact information for your local Northland office. Our customer service representatives will be happy to research and answer any questions or problems you may have with your bill.

• Who can I contact about objectionable programming on a channel?

Although Northland does not have any direct control over the content or specific programs shown on any channel, please feel free to contact us with any concerns or questions and we will forward them on to our programming contacts at the channel. Most channels also have individual websites through which you can directly send comments to. You can also share your programming concerns with us by completing our contact us form.

• What do I do when I move?

If you are planning to move within our service area, please contact the office to schedule your transfer of service. Keep your cable equipment and bring it to your new location. If you move outside of our service area, please return the Northland converter and remote control to our local office. A prompt return of the equipment helps to avoid additional charges and is necessary for us to close your account. Any lost, stolen, or damaged converters will be charged to you. You local Northland customer service representative can explain the move or disconnect procedures to you in detail and provide you with any charges or final balance amounts.

Installation
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• How many television sets can I connect to digital cable?

You can connect to digital cable to any number of TVs in your home for a low fee per month for each additional TV. Alternatively, you can receive the Deluxe Basic lineup on each additional TV for no charge and without any additional equipment.

• Do I need a separate digital cable box for every TV?

No. You only need a digital cable box if you wish to view the channels above 99 or would like to use the digital guide.

Cable Trouble Shooting
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• What should I do if I can't see a picture on my TV?

Make sure all cables (e.g. TV, VCR, converter) are securely connected.
Make sure the TV and VCR are on the same channel (3 or 4).
Make sure the TV is set in the TV/CATV (cable TV) position.
Check if there's been a power failure or if there's any construction (that may have cut a cable) happening in your neighborhood.
If you think your splitter is causing the problem, you can bypass it by hooking up the cable directly to your TV. If this solves the problem, you may want to replace your splitter.
Make sure the TV and converter box are plugged into a 'live' electrical outlet not controlled by a wall switch.
Make sure the TV controls (brightness, contrast, horizontal/vertical hold) are properly adjusted.
If converter power has been interrupted for any reason, try turning the converter off and on to 'reset' the box.

• How do I reboot my cable box?

Unplug the AC power cord from your cable box. Wait 10 seconds then plug it back in. The box should reboot itself. Wait until the digital clock appears on the display window of your cable box. Once this happens, your box has finished rebooting. At this point you should be able to access cable again.

Pay-Per-View
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• How do I cancel a timer or an advance PPV purchase?

1) You will need to access the SETTINGS MENU
2) select timer/purchase review
3) navigate to the program to be cancelled
4) follow direction listed on pop-up prompt.
Special note: On a PPV purchase you may lose the option to cancel as soon as the box tunes to the channel.

Parental Control
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• What is a V-Chip?

All TV sets with screens 13" or larger manufactured after January 1, 2000 are required to be equipped with features to block the display of television programming based upon its rating. This technology is known as the "V-Chip". It works in conjunction with the TV ratings system to allow parents to block programming they do not want their children to see. After becoming familiar with the TV ratings, parents can identify the level of programming they want to block. By following the directions included with your TV, parents can set the V-chip to block programs with certain ratings. The settings are password protected and can be changed at any time. For more information go to www.tvguidelines.org or www.controlyourtv.org.