DTV Converter Box Coupons: Apply Now!

Update: The DTV coupon program will end on July 31, 2009. If you still need a converter box, see our new post and apply right away. - Ed.

As you probably know by now, TV as we know it will change next year as the airwaves go all-digital. Most stations now broadcast both analog and digital signals, but that will end February 17, 2009, when a new law requires them to transmit only digitally.

If you have an older non-digital TV that receives programming via rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna, you'lll need to get a set-top converter box that can transform digital over-the-air broadcasts into analog signals that can be received by their TVs. (TVs with a digital ATSC tuner will continue to receive broadcasts via antenna, and TVs connected to cable, satellite and telco-delivered TV services won't be affected.)

To help ease the burden of paying for these government-approved DTV converter boxes, Uncle Sam is offering each household two $40 coupons to buy two digital converter boxes, which are expected to cost $50 to $70. But you have to request the coupons. We suggest you apply immediately, as they're being offered on a first-come, first-served basis until the funding runs out. Another reason to act now: Most stations are already broadcasting digitally, so you can use the converter box as soon as you get one to receive the extra programming and enhanced quality of digital transmissions.

To get your coupons, you can call a toll-free number, 1-888-DTV-2009, and give them your name and address. You can also visit a website, www.dtv2009.gov, to apply. The last day to request coupons is March 31, 2009, but there's no guarantee they’ll be available at that late date if funding for the program runs out. The coupons are good for 90 days, and the federal government is supposedly timing coupon distribution to coincide with retail availability of the DTV converters. Many leading retail chains, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Kmart, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart, have been certified to participate in the coupon program.

Every household in America is eligible for coupons, regardless of income. For more information on the coupon program, go the FCC site at www.dtv.gov. Or you can check out these other resources: www.dtvtransition.org, Consumer Reports' online Guide to the Digital TV Transition (www.ConsumerReports.org/dtv), and HearUsNow.org, a consumer-advocacy Web site managed by Consumers Union (publishers of Consumer Reports).

Comments

[Joe User]

As of 08/30 I have not received my coupon yet the online status is 'mailed'. I have a confirmation from my online submission: "Your application has been approved. Your coupons are scheduled to mail on 08/01/2008. Note that coupons do not expire until 90 days after they have been mailed ... with delivery expected around 2-9 days from the mailing date." The contact page suggests they may take 12 weeks (84 days) for delivery, which would then yield six days until expiry, which is of course unacceptable.

[Jeffrey Wahl]

Another one who didn't understand that these "coupons" had an expiration date. When I received the coupons, I figured I'd wait till the technology for the boxes was properly developed and the price of the boxes might have come down, and set the coupons aside. This changeover is not a high priority to pay attention to for most folks, especially once you feel like you've jumped through the hoops to get the stupid coupons. If this isn't a scam on the American public, why do the coupons expire before the conversion date? Why are there coupons in the first place? Certainly a database that tracks which households use the benefit could simply be maintained at point of purchase- you go the store, show your address, they check to see you benefit is still unused, and you get your discount on the box? Is the government not willing to back the program?...I suppose if most people missed the deadline, the govt would be able to force this conversion with very little outlay, and generate billions in unearned, unaccountable revenue. I guess I'll start looking for a household with digital TVs...

[Paul Eng]

To Mark Regan:

Just FYI. The transition to digital TV broadcasts was part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which President Bill Clinton signed into law on February 8, 1996.

For more information, see:

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/opadhome/overview.htm

(And search for "digital television" or "DTV.")

Regrettably, the transition could have gone a lot smoother for consumers. And Consumer's Union (the parent company of Consumer Reports) continues to champion consumers' concerns among the current administration.

For more information about our efforts, see:

http://www.hearusnow.org/tvradio/12/

-Paul Eng
Web Senior Editor, Electronics

[g.powell]

I tried to use the website to get coupons but was immediately denied because I have a PO box address. The PO box is a reality because rural mailboxes get destroyed on a regular basis every winter by SNOWPLOWS, and your mail is lost in a ditch somewhere. The second fact of rural life is that the cable company will NOT run cable to streets with fewer houses (ie. rural). Despite the other problems with lost mail, they "are prohibited by law" from providing to PO boxes, even though hundreds of thousands of rural folk depend on dependable mail delivery through them. The very people that need converters most cannot get coupons.

[rita galier]

I too was not aware that there was an expiration date. I did receive the coupons but set them aside because I wasn't planning to use them until my traveling/vacation was complete. When I opened the mail I was shocked to find they had expired. With all the advertising about the need for the box it would be nice to get a heads up about the limited time use.

[Edward Caler]

I recieved two coupons, did not know that there was a time limit on it. It expired 9 July 08, Now I have decided that I need one. I do not have one, because they expired. I ordered two they said I have to tell you why. I need it.

[Carolyn Chapman]

I called today 8-19-2008 and they said i was not eligible and i want to know why they asked if i lived on an indian reservation no i don't i have a physical address but all my mail goes to my PO box what is the problem thank you in advance

[Mark Regan]

My parents applied for a coupon and they were received after the expiration date. The government will not replace them.

I applied for a coupon and was denied on grounds I do not have a "residential address", as I have only a "mailing address", which is a PO Box, since the Postal Service private contractor in the rural area I live in does not and will not deliver mail to where I live.

There is NO doubt that this is another George Bush scam on the taxpayers. They took these frequencies away from the tv broadcasters, requiring them to spend billions of dollars on new transmitters, and at the same time requiring the public to spend billions of dollars on DTV converters.

Then the government auctioned off the tv frequencies to the cell phone industry, raising additional billions of dollars. All this cost the tv and cell phone industries and consumers hundreds of billions of dollars and netted the federal government tens of billions of dollars without having to "raise taxes."

Guess what? Isn't it a tax on all of us when we the consumers and the broadcasters and the cell phone industries are REQUIRED to spend OUR money and ONLY the government profits from all this switching of money from one hand to the other.

Who profits from all this? The manufacturers of the broadcast transmitters, the manufacturers and retailers of the DTV receivers, the manufacturers and distributors of the DTV coupons, cell phone users who will see their rates rise to compensate the cell phone companies for their having to spent tens of billions of dollars for their frequencies, and the folks who advertise on the television stations, because they have to pass their costs on someplace.

George Bush should be indicted for the felony fraud he is pulling on the American consumers and businesses.

[Mr & Mrs David Gregg]

I have used the internet to get my cupons and also phone called They Say we are Denied They Said I should E-Mail and apeal I did so and Nobody respons Back ! Yes We have A Business at This Address but we have a Home that we 2 live in Why cant I have TV
to watch in 2009 like the rest of America .This is the # they gave me when I called in Today 14819929 Could somebody respond to my E-Mailes . We live in the country and have a home and a Bussiness they are 2 differant building

[Gina]

Appropriate places to complain about the TV Converter Box Coupons having an expiration date should be sent to the following:

Sample text: The Coupons should not expire until well after the conversion. What is the FCC doing to correct this major snafu in the program?

FCC Chairman Martin
Phone: 202.418.1000
E-mail : http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/martin/mail.html

FCC Washington
888-225-5322
fccinfo@fcc.gov

NTIA
Meredith Attwell Baker, Acting Assistant Secretary (202) 482-1840
mbaker@ntia.doc.gov

Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Email: http://www.senate.gov/~inouye/abtform.html

President Bush: comments@whitehouse.gov.
Vice President Chaney: vice_president@whitehouse.gov

[Sharon Reid]

I'm in the same boat as a lot of you. I ordered two coupons back in ... a long time ago. I kept checking the status. At first the status was approved. Then the status was mailed. Now the status is that the coupons have expired and I never even got 'em. Ridiculous. I can't find anybody "live" to talk to but after reading the posts it probably wouldn't do any good anyway. I'm beginning to believe that this is another union of government and big business. Some people are going to make millions off of this so-called conversion taking place and the governments off to "help" the consumer is a joke.

[Ed Willers]

If the DTV people mishandle your request, or if the Postal Service loses your coupons, and you "appeal," you'll get this --

..............

July 31, 2008

Dear Consumer:

This email is in response to your appeal of the denial of your coupon application. We have reviewed the information you provided in your appeal and all applications submitted for your household. Your duplicate application remains denied because your household has already been approved for, or has already received two coupons.

If you have reapplied because your coupons have expired or you have not received your coupons, we are prohibited by law from replacing your coupons. While we understand that many situations may have caused your coupons to expire, we are prohibited, under all circumstances, from replacing coupons.

If you have applied recently, but have not yet received your coupons, you can now expect to receive your coupons within 30 days from when you apply. Should you not receive your coupons within that time period, please be patient as mailing delays have been known to occur.

Program information is available on the website at www.DTV2009.gov.

Sincerely,

Consumer Support Center
TV Converter Box Coupon Program
.....................

I don't know what to say.

[Dick]

Your article says "To get your coupons, you can call a toll-free number, 1-888-DTV-2009, and give them your name and address. You can also visit a website, www.dtv2009.gov, to apply."

I've tried to access the www.dtv2009.gov website numerous times during the past several months, and I have never be able to get connected to this website. My complaint e-mail to the FCC resulted in only a response that say to call them at the 1-888-DTV-2009 telephone number.

[Paul]

We have a different problem. I applied for 2 converter box coupons when the program started and never received them. I check on line last month for the status and was informed that my coupons had been mailed and are now expired since they were not used.

We never got them.

I just spoke to a person at the program today and she said by law she is not allowed to replace my coupons. How absurd is this? They seem to knwo the coupons were not used. We never received them but they can't replace them by law. Our government at work again for its citizens!

What are we to do now?

[Cynthia Somerville]

I was told on the dtv site my application for the dtv coupons was approved on 2-17-08. On the site they say my coupons were mailed out on 04-18-08. As of today July,08,2008 I still have not received the dtv coupons!!!! Who is not doing they're job??? I have yet to find a phone number or anything on the dtv2009.gov web site that would be of any help with finding out where are my coupons!

[edward]

Don't wait! Everyone has these boxes. Get the Zenith (made by LG) unit from Circuit City. It is a heavy quality unit, with a great menu and interface. Avoid the cheapie at Walmart. I can't speak for it's tuner, but it looks like a light weight throwaway. I have friends who applied and never got their coupons too. Too common to be a postal service snafu....

Don't forget, if you want a new DVD burner or a DVR, most of these have a digital tuner. You won't even need the converter box if you go this route. Just watch TV through the DVR and get all the digital channels.

And the MOST IMPORTANT THING that no body tells you, GET A GOOD UHF ANTENNA. Digital is broadcast over the UHF band which doesn't travel as far as VHF signals. It makes for a tougher catch in weak signal areas.

[BEN]

WHAT IF YOU WATCH YOUR TV USING RABBIT EYERS WILL THE DTV CONVERTER BOX WORK

[JP]

I requested 2 coupons on 2/23/08. This was only five days after the program began. I never received the coupons. When I called on 5/5/08 they claimed the coupons were mailed on 4/14. When I called again on 5/23 they claimed they were mailed on 4/15. They changed the mailing date but either way the coupons were never received. This is the only mail missing in the three years I have lived at this address. The coupons may be free but the people running this program are getting paid for something they failed to do. I have two TVs that I would rather not just throw away next February. If my intention was to cheat them out of extra coupons I would have just asked a relative or friend to request coupons but I wanted to do this the honest way. The customer service representative hung-up on me so now I am forced to either throw away two TVs or ask somebody else to apply under their name and address.

[Angry in Pennsylvania]

I applied for the (2) coupons as required by the govt. Much later, tried to look up my "status" on line, no record. Then after much phone calling, finally got a "live" person, with an accent. I was then told that there was "no record" of my application. After some convincing, was put on hold, AGAIN, another "check" of my application status was made--was then told that my application had been rejected, due to my "residence" address was (supposedly) listed as a "BUSINESS". No way, this is a residential property, we've owned it for 42 yrs., and ALL of the single-family residences in this neighborhood have been, just that, since they were built in the 1960's. This sounds like a governmental "scam" to me, just to get everyone "on-line" with this digital thing so everyone can be monitored by Washington!!!! If there really are so-called discount coupons, then why are so many people having trouble getting them, or even getting the "status" on their applications????

[Walter]

You should not wait to apply for coupons, they are only given away a limited amount.

[Michael Odle]

We just applied for our coupons and expect to wait a few weeks for them. In the meantime, we would really like to know if there are differences in the quality of available converters. Why doesn't Consumer Reports do a comparison for all of us?

[Lynn Walters]

2 days after I applied , I was told the coupons had already been mail to
me . Several Times I tried and was told , "They were mailed o you already..I think it's all a big SCAM as I've NEVER received the coupons...I did the appeal thing and got the same answer,"YOU ALREADY HAVE THE COUPONS ,THEY WERE MAILED LONG AGO" they say ,..It's all a lie..

[John J.]

There were supposed to be additional funds made available if the original allotment of coupons ran out. There had better be. There'll be a big stink if not.

[Tim]

DTV converter Boxes will not be available untill Late February / Early March of '08. If you have applied for a Coupon already they will also be out then. Sincerely, above name

[Michael LaBorde]

This might be a little more urgent than some people might think. The FCC has given local broadcasters the right to end their analog service earlier than the February 2009 date if it is "necessary" to their transition. There is no indication from the FCC though about what "necessary" might mean.