MCN 12, MITV 17 Reach Agreement With Time Warner Cable

McAllen-- Following a months-long dispute with Time Warner Cable, The City of McAllen and the McAllen Independent School District have reached an agreement with the cable provider.

The dispute arose when Time Warner announced it would digitize analog channels MCN 12 and MITV 17, to provide more high definition channels and faster internet to the public. The City of McAllen and several other Texas cities opposed the move fearing cable viewers would lose access to the Public, Education, and Government (PEG) channels, since some customers would need to purchase additional equipment to continue viewing the PEG channels.

An agreement was ultimately reached in federal court, in which Time Warner would proceed with digitizing the channels on or after January 8, 2011 but would provide free digital converter boxes for customers who need them.

Summary of the Agreement:

• Time Warner Cable agrees to provide one free converter box to subscribers to basic service for five years
• Time Warner Cable agrees to provide one free converter box to subscribers to standard service for one year
• The free digital converter box offer is available for at least 60 days after channels are digitized (earliest the free offers to end is March 8, 2011)
• The free digital converter box offer is available to existing and to new Time Warner customers
• Time Warner Cable agrees to provide free installation to the elderly, the disabled and to low income customers
• City of McAllen and McAllen ISD can collect names of people who want boxes and Time Warner Cable will contact those customers and provide them with free boxes if the customer is eligible for free boxes

To request a digital converter box, McAllen residents can call (956) 681-1217 from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday or they can submit their information online using this form.

Have questions about the digital conversion or about whether you need a converter box?

Click on Frequently Asked Questions