DTV converter coupons are flowing again

If you're one of the millions of people who’ve been placed on a waiting list to receive DTV converter-box coupons, there’s some good news: According to the NTIA, you should have your coupons by the end of next week at the latest.

And for those who either never applied for coupons but wish to do so, or who have coupons that have since expired, there's still time to act. Just visit the DTV coupon website at http://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx, or call the 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-888-388-2009 (1-888-DTV-2009), to reapply. As in the past, each eligible household can receive up to two $40 coupons. The National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA), the agency spearheading the DTV coupon program, says with the waiting-list backlog now cleared, it should take on average about nine days to receive a coupon after you apply.

The coupon program has been restarted thanks to the recently passed stimulus package, which allocated some $650 million to the DTV coupon program. In addition to funding more coupons, the NTIA says the money is being used to streamline the applications process to reduce waiting, and to help the agency reach "the most vulnerable populations" via local outreach efforts. The renewed funding of the coupon program follows a decision by Congress to delay the analog cutoff for over-the-air broadcasts until June 12, 2009. One of the main reasons was that the government ran out of money to fund the DTV converter-box coupons, leaving some 4 million people on a coupon waiting list. These coupons can be used to help offset the cost of buying one of these boxes, which make over-the-air digital signals usable on older TVs that won’t work after June 12.

So far, nearly 40 percent of the actual coupon funding has been used. The NTIA says that should the program appear to be running out of money, a priority would be given to those households that currently receive their TV broadcasts exclusively from over-the-air analog signals.

However, remember that while the new June 12th is the last day that broadcasters can transmit analog TV signals, many stations—about 600 now, and perhaps 150 more, according to the FCC—will go all-digital before that date. To make the transition early, though, the stations need to follow some stiff new FCC rules.

To find out whether stations in your area are transitioning earlier, visit www.dtv.gov. If you're currently using a DTV converter, we recommend you regularly re-scan channels to make sure you’re getting all the stations available in your area.

—James K. Willcox

Comments

[everett whitney]

TO: Pete - " What about Expired Coupons ..?"

Hopefully, by now, you'll simply have TRIED and just requested new ones !

Time IS extremely short - the interval between submitting a new request & your actual receipt before 12 June IS already highly-0unlikely, IF they do allow for replacements.

Nothing to loose - the most that will happen IS that the Computer will deny the second request.

An alternative - since the Vast majority will also discover that their current, older "V" analog Rabbit Ears or other indoor, set top antenna units will also need to be replaced, simply seriously consider signing up for the New, limited channel count offering by all local companies . . . they will NOT readily-admit to having same - but - they all DO!

Ours is $11/monthly for channels #02 thru #23, FAR more than any antenna, perfect displays in all weather, operates every TV set in the home + all the VCRs & NO maintenance or crawling out on the rooftop to install a new UHF unit!

[Pete Nikolai]

Will they also begin to fill requests for replacement coupon cards for those that have expired?

[HelixAl]

Now that the coupons are available, does anyone know where I can purchase a zinwell 970 or 950 converter box - preferably from a bricks and mortar store? Location: Central NJ