FCC says digital transition going smoothly

WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- The Federal Communications Commission says Friday's transition to digital TV signals in U.S. households appears to be going smoothly.

The FCC said nearly 1,030 U.S. TV stations completed the analog-to-digital transition as of midday Friday and the ensuing public response to the changeover appears to be positive, ABC News said.

The National Association of Broadcasters said the results of a survey completed last week indicated most U.S. households were prepared for the digital switch.

The survey found 88 percent of the 12.6 million U.S. households using broadcast signals had made the necessary arrangements to avoid an interruption in TV services.

The survey found 1.75 million households had done nothing to prepare for the changeover, ABC News reported.

Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst for Consumers Union, told the Los Angeles Times the preparation of U.S. households was primarily due to the decision to postpone the changeover from Feb. 17 to Friday.

"We are in much better shape" because of the delay, Kelsey said.