Need converter for older TV? Coupons ready

$40 offered to help viewers buy box to switch to digital

By John Dunbar , Associated Press

Published January 1, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Millions of $40 government coupons become available today 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 today, 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 dtv2009.gov starting today. 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.

How to apply

Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, nondigital televisions without cable or satellite service will need a special converter box to receive a picture. The boxes are expected to cost $50 to $70.

Each household can request two $40 coupons at no charge to help pay for the boxes. Here's how:

* Apply online at dtv2009.gov.

* Call the coupon program's 24-hour hotline, 1-888-388-2009.

* Mail application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000.

* Fax application to 1-877-388-4632 .

• January 5, 2008

  1:20 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  pworf writes:

  I went to dtv web site and I was told by the teckie gods that the site did not have a reliable security certificate and recommended that I NOT go there. I saw a story on the TV news that the converter boxes are going to cost $150.00 not $50 to $70. Who is running the .gov site, who knows how much the converter boxes really cost? I think this is another scam to take money from my pocket to some highly compensated corporate or government individual's pocket. If the government thinks that digital TV is so good for me then use my tax dollars that I have already paid and give me the converter for free - it was your idea to convert anyway.

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