Independence Day is cause enough for celebration, but there is something very American about also being able to celebrate the return of broadcast TV to Pahrump.

According to George Richardson of GWRC-LLC/GWR Technologies, Inc., the contractor putting up the new Pahrump TV translator tower, it should be up and on the air by the Fourth of July weekend, thus restoring the local broadcast of the major Las Vegas network TV stations.

Since October 5, 2007, viewers without a cable or satellite connection have been unable to watch their favorite network programs. That's all about to change.

All five networks -- ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS -- are received from Mt. Potesi off the Low Power TV (LPTV) network translators. "These signals are then processed and rebroadcast from the Pahrump LPTV translator site," stated Richardson.

In a report to Town Manager Bill Kohbarger, Richardson indicated the mandated change to digital TV that occurred on June 12, only applies to the main high power channels. His report said LPTV is not required to change to the new digital format and none of the network translators on Mt. Potesi have immediate plans to change from their existing analog broadcast format.

What does that mean for residents of Pahrump Valley? The new translator channels will be the same as they were before. They will be standard TV reception with no need for a converter box or a new digital compliant television.