Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 1

'Ml II 'All II Pro JftUK 6, (AM OA AAA 4PI f. Mastering winter photography PLAY Delay in works Digital black holes Energy eaters Digital primer I On 5A I House Democrats t0 131(6 Work is under way, but many rural translators will not be ready for years Graphic illustrates what digital is and what it will do for you Watch what you buy. Some giant flat screens have giant appetites diiuuiei Mdu iii siuwiiiy changeover Economy not hitting county tax collections as feared fomwaon grows ressy TV stations pay high price for digital makeover By KARL PUCKETT Tribune Stafl Writer 2 LEGISLATURE The Lowdown Excerpts from Tribune Capitol Bureau chief John Adam's blog, featuring Legislative observations 1M You'll find Adam's blog at www. gfthb.comlegislature. Stimulus tuts state awmaliers on pins, needles Planned federal economic package adds major dose of uncertainty to budgetary decisions The bad news for those who are delinquent in paying their property taxes is overdue notices are in the mail.

The good news for Cascade County Treasurer Jess Anderson is that just 3,000 notices had to be sent out, despite the poor economy. "It's good to see the taxes are still being paid," Anderson said. In October, Anderson expressed concern about delinquency rates rising when he mailed property-tax statements for the first half of 2008 to the owners of 40,000 properties. The economic downturn prompted his gloomy outlook as he recalled delinquent rates reaching as high as 18 percent in the 1980s. However, an increase in late I TRIBUNE PHOTOLARRY BECKNER Dan Stark, an engineer with KR7V, works with the station's digital transmitter.

While KRTV is already transmitting in digital, as well as analog, several other Great Falls stations are unlikely to be transmitting in digital by the Feb. 17 national deadline. payments did not materialize last year. A total of $76 million in property taxes were levied in 2008, the year for which Anderson's By JOHN S.ADAMS Tribune Capitol Bureau HELENA Lawmakers at the state Capitol are eagerly awaiting details of a proposed $800 billion to $900 billion federal economic stimulus package currently being debated in Washington, D.C. The details of that package are critical because Montana's legislators don't want to vote on state Anderson Timing, costs and logistics complicate national upgrade budget meas- ures that could By RICHARD ECKE Tribune Stafl Writer Glendive Broadcasting's KXGN-TV, Channel 5, is the lone television station in the country's smallest TV market.

The Glendive-area market in eastern Montana is ranked 210th in size out of 210 designated tele Crunch time is coming for an American transition to digital television. Paul Srurlaug- On the national scene Stimulus bill's provisions on trade protection spark dispute 2A GOP adopts strategy of full-fledged opposition to Obama economic proposals 2A be affected by a boost in federal funds until they know whether it's coming. The U.S. House on Wednesday passed President Barack Obama's $819 billion stimulus plan aimed at creating jobs and turning around the ail Is your station ready? Great Falls TV stations and the digital transition: KRTV (CBS), channel 3, cable channel 11, already broadcasts digital and high-definition signals, as well as an analog signal, which it will broadcast until it is required to shut it off. KFBB (ABC), channel 5, cable channel 9, already broadcasts both digital and analog signals, but does not broadcast in high-definition.

It's waiting for ABC to provide high-definition service in this area. KLMN (FOX), channel 26, cable channel 22, has not yet made the switch to digital signal, but plans to, officials said. KBGF (NBC), Channel 50, cable channel 6, is a satellite of Helena station KTVH, which has already made the switch to digital broadcasts. KBGF has not yet made the switch, but plans to, officials said. The changeover is not required because KBGF is a low-power station.

KTGF (independent), channel 45 over the air, cable channel 12 on cable, has ordered equipment and hopes to install it in time to meet the deadline. PBS (public), a public television transmitter in Great Falls, is expected to begin broadcasting by October on channel 21 over the air, and channel 8 on Great Falls cable. A fundrais-ing group needs to raise about $65,000 more in donations to build the tower needed to begin broadcasting. The station's construction permit granted by the FCC expires Oct 12, 2010. (TBN, Christian), Trinity Broadcasting Network, channel 53 over the air, is a low-power station not required to go digital.

CWKRTV, channel 2 on cable and digital channel 23 over the air, is a secondary digital channel to KRTV. son, vice president and general manager of Glendive Broadcasting, crossed his fingers in January, hoping office is now collecting taxes. The money goes to pay for county, city, school and state government operations. The deadline to pay the first half was Nov. 30, 2008, and the deadline for the second half is May 31, 2009.

Approximately $36 million of the first-half taxes were returned on time. A total of about $2.1 million, or 5.4 percent of taxes levied, is delinquent, which Anderson said is a slight drop from the previous round of collections. Late notices were sent to affected property owners Friday. Property owners who are delinquent must pay a 2 percent penalty in addition to a monthly interest charge of .833 percent. Additionally, the amount of protested taxes is down to $380,000 from a high of $14.6 million in 2007.

Anderson said the protests include Qwest, Alltel and Verizon challenging the valuations of cell phone towers. Taxes in protest are held until a decision is made. "The less protest we have, the more money we have to distribute," Anderson said. You either decide to stay in TV or not. vision markets.

Even Glendive's tiny TV station has opted to go digital, although the switch routinely costs a station between $150,000 and $750,000, according the federal govern- Paul Sturlaugson of ment would extend Glendive Broadcasting a Feb. 17 deadline on the hefty digital conversion price tag. 11 to halt analog broadcasts and commence digital ing economy. The Senate is expected to take up debate on an $887 billion version of the bill Tuesday. Obama said he wants a stimulus bill on his desk ready to sign by President's Day, Feb.

16. Montana lawmakers who sit on appropriations subcommittees hope Congress can reach agreement soon so the Legislature can begin working those funds into to several Montana broadcasters. "That's in the ballpark," said Darnell Washington, owner of Destiny Communications' independent Great Falls station, KTGF. "It's a lot of money." broadcasts. "We're hoping they do postpone this," Sturlaugson said in a recent interview.

Congress is currently considering a bill to delay the changeover deadline to June 12. (Story on 5A) See DIGITAL CONVERSION, 5A See BUDGET, 6A Iraqi elections avoid violence but complaints loom A'A PrZ By BRIAN MURPHY Associated Press Writer "Names were on the center voter registry but did not appear on the (polling) station registry." The leader of the second-largest Sunni bloc in parliament, Saleh al-Mutlaq, accused the Shi-ite-led government of a deliberate campaign to keep the minority Sunnis "on the sidelines." It was unclear whether the alleged problems were isolated or could cast doubts on the entire election. But any political bitterness could further complicate another difficult task ahead for Iraq's ii I have come here hoping to have a better future by voting for people who I think are capable of helping the Iraqi people. I was not subjected to any pressure and I made my choice of my own free will. Hazim Khazim, 24, laborer in Baghdad (More voter quotes on 4A) 11 hopes for a workable democracy.

In Washington, President Obama hailed the elections as significant, peaceful and important steps toward Iraqis taking responsibility for their future. But election observers and others were examining a growing list of complaints, including claims that hundreds of people perhaps more were wrongly omitted from voting lists in areas across Iraq. "There was huge amount of confusion," said Afram Yakoub, a Belgium-based election monitor who visited polling sites in the Mosul area in northern Iraq. BAGHDAD Passing through razor-wire cordons and police checkpoints, Iraqi voters Saturday took another step in the nation's quest for stability in provincial elections that were carried off without major violence but tarnished by claims of flaws and threats of challenges. Even before a single ballot was counted, Iraqi officials were basking in the successes watching millions of voters wave the purple-tinted fingers that have become symbols of the countiy's AP PH0T0ALAA AL-MARJANI Iraqi women display their ink-stained fingers after voting in the country's provincial elections in Najaf, Iraq, on Saturday.

Polls opened Saturday under extremely tight security, which includes driving bans in major cities and searches of all voters. See IRAQ, 4A Index of regular features 2009 'Great Falls Tribune A Gannett newspaper No. 264-1 24th Vear Hot Off the Press Jumble Legals Great Falls forecast High: 38 Low: 26" Wind continues Into early part of week Full weather report on back page 2B 5S 3B 5M 1-6B 10A 1-6C 3C 5M Business Calendar Classified Crossword Chatter Nation Obituaries 2M Opinion 8A Sudoku PLAY TV listings PLAY Movies 91 .0.