Comcast will upgrade its cable service in Anne Arundel County and Annapolis this fall, giving a free digital converter to almost all its remaining basic cable subscribers.

In a nationwide program, Comcast will give converters and digital cable boxes to thousands of residential and business subscribers to free up space on its network for faster Internet, more high definition channels and more video on demand.

"It's going to benefit all of our customers," said Scott Allison, senior vice president of regional operations. "By going digital, we'll be able to compress the digital signal to free up more...