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The NTIA is distributing coupons that offer a $40 discount on converter boxes.
The check may be in the mail, but the converter box coupon? Probably not.
Reuters says that the government has encountered a problem with its widely publicized coupon offer: they are running out of funds for postage.
The government started mailing converter-box coupons in late February. To date, they have received requests for over 16 million coupons.
Each household is eligible for two coupons, which offer consumers a $40 discount on a converter box. This will help analog TV viewers receive digital signals after the February 2009 switch.
The postage problem is coupled with BusinessWeek’s report that many consumers are having a hard time finding converter boxes. There seems to be a shortage at retail stores. Best Buy, Circuit City, RadioShack, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart are just a few of the retailers participating in the program.
The lack of hardware is frustrating consumers—at least the ones that aren’t just letting the coupons expire. While the digital switch may not be happening until next year, the coupons are only valid for 90 days. Only 42 percent of the 840,000 coupons that just expired were actually redeemed. Once a coupon expires, it cannot be replaced. If the government decides to let people reapply, it would cause an even greater dent in the program.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is currently overseeing the $1.5 billion coupon program.
I would like to know, what address the Federal Government has;———so that I can mail them a request for 2 digital converter coupons!
I will include a “stamped, self-addressed mailing envelope, for the coupons,——to be sent tome!
Martin N.
what a rip off. I had a good working system. Now I cannot use the features on my TV like the program menu, record one channel while watching another. It kepts telling me my antenna needs adjusting - never had a problem before. The retail salespersons can not help - they don’t know anything about the boxes. Sure I got a few new channels but I lost a lot more.
Not a criminal administration, criminal government!
Why is there a changeover? So the government can
sell the PUBLIC AIRWAVES for money. DTV frees the spectrum to allow this sale! Just another TAX and LOSS
of FREEDOM.
ditto, no hardware, expired coupons
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DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE CONVERTER BOXES! i got 2 w/ the coupons i got from the gov. still had to pay $20 out of pocket. they do not work. magnavox (box’s brand customer service) don’t know squat and the government (direct line of customer support) don’t know squat. no help. they say NOW that i need a bigger better antenna and MAYBE my reception will improve or just to get cable. no thank you to that.
if this was a ploy by the government for everyone to get the satellite cable thing, they have run out of luck my friends. i currently use my regular rabbit ear rca antenna and get every channel. why isn’t the converter box able to receive them? “i don’t know mam’” is what they tell me. a rip off to consumers and a scheme for a grander plan people!