There is no set date for everything to go HD, what is happening in 2009 is for local over the air channels must be digital. Has no effect on cable, they can still broadcast digital if they chose. Cablevision is all fiber in the street, do you think the extra 200ft-300ft at most from the pole to your house has a big impact??Nope, also its funny because verzion uses the same wiring already in the home in most of the case I have heard with people switching back to cablevision from verizon. The two most common reasons people switch back are they were quoted one price then when they get thier bill its usually $10-20 more per month and the second reason they give is that they experice alot of breakup and their boxes are not has good.