Both local TV stations and Oxford residents who have yet to make the switch to digital TV are experiencing troubles with the high cost of the government regulated switch-over.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) extended the analog license terms of television stations to June 12 in compliance with the DTV Delay Act passed by Congress Feb. 11. The original plan was to mandate all stations to transmit digitally by Feb. 17.

However, only 36 percent of the 1,800 full-power broadcasting stations nationwide have chosen to completely give up their analog services on the original switchover date, according to Edie Herman, FCC media relations advisor.

"The cost of operating both transmitters is one of the reasons a number of stations wanted to end analog transmissions on the earlier date," Herman said. "Some stations thought it was just too expensive to do that in today's economy."

WXIX-TV Cincinnati (Fox Channel 19) is one of the many local stations that opted to wait until June before making the switch. General Manager Bill Lanesey said Channel 19 must now cover the cost of running both analog and digital transmitters until they finalize the switch.

However, it is not just TV stations that are dealing with high costs, but also consumers with analog TVs who have yet to purchase digital converter boxes.

According to Herman, government issued coupons were issued to give relief to low income families who were unprepared to make the switch to digital and could not afford the digital converter boxes.

Consumers were able to apply for coupons from Jan. 1 to March 31. The coupons cover most of the cost of the converter box, Herman said.

Lanesey said he acknowledges the importance of discount coupons for some viewers.

"We're going to switch sometime on or before June 12," Lanesey said. "The biggest reason for the delay is that the government has run out of funding for the coupon program."

Some of those who did not receive a coupon when they were first made available are waiting for the government to issue more before getting their converter box.

According to Herman, families who did not previously receive the relief coupon are delaying their purchase of a converter box.

"There is a very long waiting line of people that want to get coupons and are awaiting money from the stimulus package," Herman said. "Once that money (from the stimulus package) goes through, it shouldn't take more than a month to get the coupons out. The delay allows time to get the (coupon) program wrapped up again."

Some Oxford residents have embraced the delay for that same reason, according to Doug Day, owner and operator of Day Estates and Miami Mobile Homes & Apartments.

"It's unfortunate, but a lot of people are having trouble making payments," Day said. "We've had a lot of evictions and late payments. The delay gives them a chance to scrape up enough money to get the (digital) box."

Day said he is responsible for addressing the concerns of nearly 1,000 people, some of whom have raised questions about the switch.

"We've had a few questions, mostly based on income, from people in the park who can't afford to pay ," Day said. "But everyone's pretty prepared for it."

Herman said the FCC is aware of the problem the switch may pose for low-income households.

"Most Americans all have cable or satellite, but a lower-income person doesn't have all the options others have," Herman said. "They can't just go out and buy a new TV or subscribe to cable."

Lanesey said Channel 19 is considerate of this demographic and the problems facing low-income families and is confident in their ability to comply with the government ruling.

"As long as they're proactive and go out and get (the converter box), they'll receive the digital signals at no extra cost to them," Lanesey said. "I think they'll be just fine."