[Rich A]

They still have to make available (on their basic package at no extra cost) all the local OTA channels in the area. This can be any way they choose to send them, digital or analog. These channels have mostly been all analog and only required an analog cable ready TV.

Now many of the cable companies are going to total digital. This means they STILL have to provide those local channels (not scrambled). So that is what this "clear QAM" thing is about (among others). Anyone who now has a TV with a digital tuner can watch those local OTA channels on Clear QAM without an STB.

If you still have an old analog TV and they get rid of all their analog signals, then you have no way to view the FCC mandated local OTA feeds from your cable provider. That is probably why some are offering free STBs. This allows you to still view those Clear QAM OTA re-transmission via your cable. Until the cable companies make the "official" move to digital only in 2012. Here in CT. Cox Cable has more or less solved the problem by keeping their analog channels intact. They have said they will do so until 2012.