Do I need to get a set top converter box for the digital tv deadline?

No you do not need a digital converter box. Since you are receiving cable services and getting television channel through your cable provider there is no need to purchase a digital converter box. The converter box is only for households that don't subscribe to any satellite or cable services and only get their local channels through their indoor or outdoor antenna.

No, you only deed that if you use a roof antenna or rabbit ears. You are already receiving digital signals.

The box is only required for over-the-air signals (it replaces those rabbit ear antennas). Anything plugged into a cable line (Direct TV, regular Cable, etc etc) will work just fine. You just need the converter box if you normally watch local stations with the rabbit ears (Analog signals). You lucky dawg (free cable). Edit: The guy below is incorrect. As long as you keep your roadrunner going, your cable wont get cut off. When you are about a week or two past your internet getting cut off (for non payment) then yes, they will come and pick up the modem and disconnect it from the line. As long as you keep your roadrunner, then you'll keep your cable. I moved into a house with free cable from Time Warner. The previous owner told me it was setup like that. We lived there 6 months and got cable internet. Soon as that happened, then nothing changed, but when we switched to a new company, then they cut it off at pole. If they dont have a reason to come to your house, then they can't tell. You might want to research about getting a cable descrambler and get every station for free (Pay per view, all showtimes, hbo's etc etc)

at some point in time they are going to audit there cable/internet lines and out blocks where they belong. if they do this you will need a converter box. get the coupons here... dtv2009.gov

A cable guy gave me free cable when he installed the neighborhood box in my yard. About three months later, someone realized that I was hooked up but had no account and it was disconnected. So, you might want to file for a DTV coupon and spend the $13 extra to get the $50 box (plus tax). It will be cheap insurance and you can sell or give away the box if you never use it. Prior to this, make sure you don't have a digital television, because then you wouldn't need the box under any circumstance.