BROOKINGS — If you’re using Swiftel TV services, expect changes in the near future — in the early morning hours of May 1, to be exact.

“From what I understand, they’re not doing it just to make people’s lives difficult,” Councilor Wayne Avery said at a recent City Council meeting. “There’s been a lot of things sent out in the billings — there’s been quite a bit of information put out on it — but I realize that some people don’t always catch that at the time and they’ll probably be upset on May 1 when TV doesn’t work like it used to.”

The changes are coming because Swiftel’s current provider, National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, will no longer serve the Brookings area. In its place, however, will be National Content & Technology Cooperative.

“They’ve been in the business a very long time (and are) serving a lot of companies,” Swiftel Operations Manager Curt Kabris told the Brookings Register in an interview.

Naturally, that means things are going to be different. According to Swiftel, the changes include:

• A different-looking channel guide
• Pretty much all the channel numbers will change
• All channels will be in high definition, with an end to standard definition
• Current channels will remain available, except for Stingray Music and Bloomberg

These changes could lead to some price point alterations as well, Kabris said.

“A letter was sent out to each individual customer so, depending on (the) new video channel lineup that they select, their price may be adjusted accordingly,” he said, adding that customers can pick their own package, which allows flexibility that wasn’t available with Swiftel’s previous TV services provider.

Another piece of good news is the change will have no effect on customers’ equipment. “All of the existing equipment will continue to work as it did before,” Kabris noted.

Swiftel is prepared to lend a hand, too, during the transition — something pointed out by Avery and Kabris alike.

“They’re going to be working with people — the way it’s going to work is they’re going to put them in a program that’s similar to what the program they had prior to the change, but it won’t be the same,” Avery said. “Some of the channels will go away. There will be some different ones.”

Kabris said, “The advice I would give is refer to your new channel guide and call Swiftel at 605-696-HELP, option three, if they need any assistance.” 

He added that another number — 605-697-8220 — is also an option for customers to call.

“They’re doing everything they can to make the transition smooth and to work with people — knowing that there will be issues — but they’re going to try and take care of people as well as possible,” Avery concluded.

— Contact Mondell Keck at mkeck@brookingsregister.com.