Where is the coupon application?

[moviebuff2]

Hi everyone:

I hope this is the right place for my question; if not, please move it to the proper one. Thanks.

Today I went to http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html to fill out my application for the coupon for the converter box. I could not find a link for the application; only a handful of links for government's blah-blah-blahs.

Aren't these applications supposed to be available, effective 1/1/2008?

[redwudz]

You get them from the retailers. Here's a list of the present retailers that will/are carrying them: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/NTIA_Certified_Retailers_121107.pdf

Best Buy, Circuit City, Walmart, Radio Shack, Sears are a few common ones.

From this press release: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2007/DTVretailers_121107.html

EDIT: At the moment, no boxes appear to be available, though. LG says they may sell theirs for $60US when they do make them available. They seem to be the first company certified by the government to produce them: http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1931969820070320

[drstew]

https://dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

[moviebuff2]

Hello everyone:

Here's the news:

Feds share coupons to help TV transition (AP)

WASHINGTON - Millions of $40 government coupons become available Tuesday to help low-tech television owners buy special converter boxes for older TVs that might not work after the switch to digital broadcasting.

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 http://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).

Congress, in ordering the transition to digital broadcasting, set aside $1.5 billion for the coupon program, which will fund 33.5 million coupons and other costs.

The giveaway basically works under the honor system.

The first 22 million coupons will go to all households that request them. That includes a residence that gets cable service for one television but has a spare TV that still uses an antenna, for example.

The rest of the coupons, however, are meant only for those who do not subscribe to a pay-television service.

The Nielsen Co. estimates that 14.3 million households, or about 13 percent of the 112.8 million total television households in the nation, rely on over-the-air television broadcasts for programming.

Tony Wilhelm, director of consumer education for NTIA, said the agency expects to have enough coupons to satisfy demand. "We think the high number will be 26 million," he said. "Low end is 10 million."

Members of Congress have criticized both the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission for their work on the transition to digital television.

In November, the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative arm, released a report that concluded there is "no comprehensive plan" for the transition.

Most of the concern rests with public education campaigns. While Congress allocated $1.5 billion for the coupon program, only $5 million was for education. The Association for Public Television Stations reported in September that 51 percent of participants surveyed were unaware that the transition was taking place.

Since then, the broadcast industry has announced a voluntary public education campaign. The FCC is circulating a plan among commissioners that would make public education efforts by broadcasters mandatory.

Congress ordered the transition to digital broadcasting to make more efficient use of the publicly owned airwaves.

On Jan. 24, the FCC will auction off the spectrum currently used for analog television. That portion of the airwaves will be sold to wireless providers and is expected to bring in as much as $15 billion. A portion of the spectrum will also be dedicated for use by emergency responders.

___

On the Web:

FCC information: http://www.dtv.gov/

Link for the article:

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20080101/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/digital_tv

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My Comments:

I called the 888 number and applied for the coupons. It was very easy. This is the nice part.

Now, the scary part.

The voice automated responder (i.e., no live person) knew exactly where I live, my name - first and last - and even pronounced them correctly. My first name is mispronounced 95% of the time. But this automated responder had no problem.

BIG GOVERNMENT IS WATCHING!!!

"You'd better watch out
You'd better not whine
You'd better not doubt
The boogeyman is coming to town..."

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Additional comment (boogeyman, please don't eavedrop):

How soon do you think these coupons will be on Ebay?

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Never mind, they are already:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Information-On-Free-Digital-to-Analog-Cable-Tv-Coupons_W0QQitemZ33...QQcmdZViewItem

aaahhhhhhhhhhhh

[Rich86]

a bit of trivia . . .

The boxes are not available yet.
The "problem" is inflicted on us beginning mid February 2009.
There is a limited number of coupons available for households that subscribe to pay tv services on at least 1 tv.
If you apply for a coupon now - it will be issued when the convertor boxes become available.
The coupons only have a life of 90 days.

I guess I do not understand why they would not permit the coupons to be used through the actual implementation date of the forced transition to digital tv signals? Why would anyone actually need one of these convertor boxes now?

[Krispy Kritter]

Because many people are in the habit of getting there panties in a bunch. Two things to note: 1) you won't need a "converter box" for at least another year 2) these are only needed for users that are getting TV broadcasts via antenna (NOT cable).