NORMAL - New technology, an attempt to remain competitive and a push to give a majority of their customers what they want has prompted recent changes in the Comcast basic cable lineup.

That was part of the information provided to the Normal City Council Monday night by John Niebur, Comcast director for the Peoria district, and Deborah Piscola, Comcast regional director of government affairs and franchising.

Council members asked Comcast representatives to attend a meeting to address concerns with cable television service voiced by members and residents at the Nov. 17 council meeting. Because of the concerns, the council voted against a proposed basic cable price increase.

Piscola said the company is not currently seeking a price adjustment. The request at the November meeting was an annual federal regulation. Whether there are future rate adjustments depend on the state of the economy, she said.

"It would appear there is a reduced level of service in the basic package," said Councilman Adam Nielsen. "Why can't we have a static package people can rely on and count on?"

Niebur said as newer technology comes along, the company needs to have the space to offer it. That's why three cable channels were moved to digital only channels. He said those three channels still are available to basic cable customers if they have newer television sets that are digital capable.

"We're not trying to take away," he said. "We've added four (channels) since (Comcast) took over."

Councilwoman Sonja Reece asked if the changes were in response to the Feb. 17 nationwide conversion to digital television.

Piscola said they are two different things. On Feb. 17, all television channels will be transmitted in digital but cable companies like Comcast will "down-convert" them to analog so that analog television users still will be able to have television service. Those without cable service have to buy a converter box.

Meanwhile, the recent Comcast changes are the first steps toward total conversion to digital channels, she said. Since analog televisions are no longer being made, Piscola said eventually everyone will have a digital set.

Niebur said the company continually tries to offer as much as it can and even rebuilt the infrastructure in 2001-02 to have more space for channels.

"We thought it would be good for another 10 to 15 years but we quickly filled its capacity," he said.

An analog station takes up the same amount of space on that system as 10 digital channels.