07-25-2012 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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NSCC Executive Summary CBG Communications, inc. • Analog Channel Reception / PEG Access Channels As part of our testing, CBG viewed the analog channels on a television set at the headend and at all 10 testpoint locations to determine through subjective testing what, if any, signal quality problems currently exist. The main focus of the test was on analog channels as they are the most prone to problems within the system. Digital signals are typically either on or off with few if any distortions added by the network outside of undesired attributes that can be introduced as a result of significant compression of channels to conserve bandwidth. However, when distortions and noise are significant enough, pixilation and picture freeze -ups can occur. Our observations found that, in general, the analog channels were of an acceptable viewing quality. However, it must be noted, the overall quality of the analog channels is not as crisp or void of noise as that found on the digital channels. This is to be expected. Comcast simulcasts all of the PEG channels on the system today. hi other words, PEG channels, as well as other channels offered in an analog format, are transmitted on the system in both analog and standard definition digital formats. As a result, the PEG services provided as analog channels are not as clear as those provided over the digital platform. However, the analog PEG channels are consistent in quality with the analog commercial channels. Accordingly, subscribers utilizing a digital converter box will not notice the lower quality on the analog channels, since the converter always tunes to the digital format version of the PEG and other simulcast channels. The one exception to the above statements regarding analog channels is Channel 18, programmed by the Roseville Area School District. Our viewing of Channel 18 at all 10 locations showed that Channel 18 is affected, to varying degrees, significantly more than the other analog channels, and specifically PEG, channels. This is likely due to ingress or undesirable signals getting onto the system. Comcast needs to address this issue on a site by site basis as problems are reported or discovered, but should provide a strategy for minirnizing this problem system -wide. For instance, Comcast could require its technicians and installers to visually check channel 18 at all service calls and installations. When issues with the picture quality are apparent, the technician or installer vi 19