This is the first post to this site. I am going to use this site to track the progress of the TV stations in Connecticut in getting a digital signal on the air. Only WTNH (ABC) and WFSB (CBS) met the May 1, 2002 deadline and WHPX (PAX) went on the air shortly thereafter. However, both WFSB and WHPX are both broadcasting at very low power and WHPX is only on the air during primetime.

The other commercial CT stations all applied for 6 month waivers. That gives them until November 1, 2002 to get their act together. The main cause of the delay for most of them was the inability to get local zoning approval for the construction of a new TV tower on Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington, CT. Currently there are two towers on the mountain, one owned by CSM (used by WTIC) and another owned and used by WVIT. Neither of them can handle the additional digital antennas. The new tower was to have been used by WTIC, WTXX, WEDN (Hartford's CPTV station) and possibly by WVIT.

PBS stations have until May 1, 2003 and CPTV expects all of it's stations to meet that deadline.

Here's a summary of where each station is at:

WTHN - Ch. 8 analog / Ch. 10 digital (ABC)

On the air December 4, 1998.

Their signal was causing significant interferance problems for WJAR in RI, whose analog signal is on Ch. 10. They temorarily reduced their broadcasting power by 85% until the local cable companies could improve their shielding. They were back up to full power in early 2001. However, some people (including myself) report currently having problems with WTNH's digital signal despite high signal strength. Some suspect interferance from WJAR may be causing the frequent breakups of WTNH's signal that they are experiencing, while others believe it's just a case of signal multipath problems.

They have 3 digital channels. Their main channel carries upcoverted material and the HDTV content (720p) that ABC provides. I believe they stretch their 4:3 image to 14:9 and then crop the top and bottom a bit to fill the 16:9 area for that channel. They have a weather channel which shows a live Doppler radar image along with the Nation Weather Service automated forecast audio. They also have a sports info channel which has a scrolling ticker at the bottom with scores and news.

They have a request to increase power that, if granted, may take place sometime this fall.

WFSB Ch. 3 analog / Ch. 33 digital (CBS)

On the air May 1, 2000. HDTV on Dec. 29, 2000.

Broadcasting at low power from their old tower. Problems getting a new tower built are supposedly causing the delay in going to full power. They have one digital channel carrying upconverted content and the HDTV content (1080i) provided by CBS.

WHPX Ch. 26 analog / Ch. 34 digital (PAX)

On the air May 6, 2002.

At low power during prime time only. Off the air the rest of the day. One digital channel, upconverted content only so far.

WVIT Ch. 30 analog / Ch. 35 digital (NBC)

Applied for a waiver (current status "Accepted for filing").

Tower zoning problems prevented them from building a new tower. Currently awaiting a building permit to allow them to modify their exisiting tower in a way that doesn't required a waiver of local zoning restrictions. All equipment for it's digital facilites, except for the antenna, has been ordered.

WTIC Ch. 61 analog / Ch. 5 (Fox)

Status unknown.

I don't see a waiver request in the FCC database for them. They requested a change in their digital channel allocation from 5 to 31 on Oct. 20, 2000 but it doesn't appear to have been approved yet.

WTXX Ch. 20 analog / Ch. 12 digital (WB)

Applied for a waiver (current status "Accepted for filing").

WCTX Ch. 59 analog / Ch. 39 digital (UPN)

Granted a waiver.

Not much info available with the waiver form. Just states that the delay is due to litigation.

WUVN Ch. 18 analog / Ch. 46 digital (Univision)

Granted a waiver.

Plans to broadcast at low power to meet the minimum FCC requirements but is running into delays from equipment suppliers and scheduling delays from tower errectors and installers.

WSAH Ch. 43 analog / Ch. 42 digital (Shop at Home)

Applied for a waiver and the request was dismissed.

It appears that their initial construction permit request was never approved by the FCC so they couldn't start building a tower or buying equipment. The dismissal probably means they didn't need a waiver since they never got approval in the first place.

CPTV (PBS)

Appear to be on schedule to meet May 1, 2003 deadline.

WEDH (Ch. 24 analog / Ch. 32 digital) Hartford
WEDN (Ch. 53 analog / Ch. 45 digital) Norwich
WEDW (Ch. 49 analog / Ch. 52 digital) Stamford
WEDY (Ch. 65 analog / Ch. 6 digital) New Haven

WEDH is having the same tower problems as WFSB, WVIT, and WTIC. The other 3 stations appear to be on track to meet the May 1, 2003 deadline. There was a good article in the Hartford Courant about CPTV's progress back in May, 2001 but the article is not online anymore (it is in their paid archives, though). The article made it sound like they would be on the air soon but subsequent inquiries have yet to produce a firm target date.