HDTV Converter Coupons Now Available
The Federal government has made coupons worth $40 toward the cost of buying a converter box that will allow existing televisions work with the new HDTV system available starting today. The current broadcasts will cease on Feb. 18, 2009. If you do not own an HDTV or have a converter by that date, you will have no television – unless you get cable or satellite television.
Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, anyone who does not own a digital set and still gets their programming via over-the-air antennas will no longer receive a picture.
That's the day the television industry completes its transition from old-style analog broadcasting to digital.
The converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be available at most major electronics retail stores. Starting Tuesday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the purchase of the boxes.
Viewers who have satellite or cable service will not need a box.
To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ starting Tuesday. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
There are only 33.5 million coupons available. The coupons will expire 90 days after they are issued – and converter boxes are not expected to be available until sometime in February of this year.
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Don Singleton — January 2, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
By NortonPete, January 1, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
I experimented with an over-the-air HDTV antenna, attempting to pick up an HDTV signal which are generally broadcast UHF.
I have a HDTV with a receiver. I’m 50 miles from NYC and about that far from Scranton, PA. I’m up on a hill with no obstructions, and at elevation 800ft. I bought the most expensive antenna and tried for days to get something. I failed to receive anything clear except for a local station that broadcast for 2 hours a day. Broadcast UHF really isn’t very good beyond 20 miles, so if they use the same broadcast antennas and then convert the signal, I can’t imagine it being worth the trouble. I’m happy with my Directv.
By McGehee, January 1, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
We’re on cable, but we decided a few years ago we didn’t get enough out of digital cable to justify the expense. I’m not sure if we’re going to need to do something about that or not, but we’re content to wait and find out.
By Craig Reynolds, January 3, 2008 @ 10:56 am
FIANLLY! The fed actually funds one of its mandates with the
40-dollar coupon for us poor saps.