KIRO 7 has been getting hundreds of calls from Comcast subscribers who are confused about whether they'll need to do anything for the digital television (DTV) transition on Feb. 17 [update: the transition will occur on June 12, 2009].

So, KIRO Consumer Investigator Amy Clancy went to Comcast for the answers.

"If you're a Comcast subscriber, do you have to do anything for the DTV conversion in February [update: the transition will occur on June 12, 2009]?" Clancy asked Steve Kipp of Comcast.

KIPP: "No, so long as you're hooked up to cable you're fine and you'll continue to receive those broadcast channels."

CLANCY: "So you'll have to get no box for Feb. 17 [update: the transition will occur on June 12, 2009]; you won't have to buy anything in addition, you won't have to hook up anything in addition, just because you're a Comcast subscriber means that you are covered for that transition?"

KIPP: "Right, nothing."

That should come as welcome news for the more than 1.25 million Comcast cable subscribers in Washington state, many of whom have been calling KIRO's live DTV phone bank with questions.

Kipp of Comcast says the confusion surrounds Comcast's own upcoming digital switch that will affect channels 30 to 74, but it's not something that's happening now.

At the very earliest, it will start happening this spring, and will mean that some, but not all, Comcast customers will need to install a digital box in order to get channels 30 through 74.

Up to three of those boxes per household will be provided by Comcast free, and all customers will be notified when they'll need to start installing the Comcast boxes, but Kipp says it has nothing to do with the federally-mandated DTV transition in February [update: the transition will occur on June 12, 2009], and that Comcast cable subscribers can rest easy.

KIPP: "They don't have to do anything on Feb. 17 [update: the transition will occur on June 12, 2009]. At some point, we'll notify our customers and let them know exactly what they need to do, but again, there'll be no additional charge, and a lot of really cool services will be available because of this."

Kipp told Clancy Comcast subscribers do not need to go out and buy one of the DTV converter boxes.

The ones they need later will be provided by Comcast, free of charge.

If you are a Comcast subscriber and have questions, please do not call KIRO, but instead call Comcast at 1-888-COMCAST.

Kipp says the company has 1,000 local customer service reps to talk with customers.