Cable television provider Comcast is switching over more channels to digital signals in Northern Santa Barbara County, requiring some customers to add new equipment.

Expanded-basic cable subscribers in Santa Maria, Orcutt, Lompoc, and the Santa Ynez Valley who don’t have set-top cable boxes will need to add digital boxes by mid-February. Comcast will provide those subscribers with a set-top box and up to two digital transport adaptors at no additional charge. For users with more than three TV sets, each additional DTA will cost $2 a month.

According to Comcast, the switch will allow the company to free up bandwidth and provide 110 more channels and faster broadband Internet service.

To get the new self-install digital boxes, call Comcast at 1-877-634-4434 or visit comcast.com/digitalnow.

Biz Briefs is compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.

This article appears in Dec 16-23, 2010.