Digital TV Converter Coupon Program Replacing
Expired Coupons, Clears Wait List
Recovery Act funds latest push to help senior
citizens and others make switch to digital TV by June 12 deadline
March 25, 2009 – As the June 12 deadline for the
nationwide conversion to digital TV approaches, the TV Converter Box
Coupon Program, which provided discount coupons to millions of senior
citizens and other Americans, has begun to accept replacement requests
from eligible households whose coupons expired without being redeemed.
The waiting list has also been cleared for those applying for the
discount coupons to purchase converter boxes.
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The Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) says money allocated as part of the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act has allowed NTIA to clear the digital
converter box coupon waiting list.
"This is very good news for Americans who were
unable to redeem their coupons before they expired," Acting NTIA
Administrator Anna Gomez said about the move to replace expired coupons.
"With the backlog of applications now eliminated,
consumers can apply for coupons and get assistance right away, allowing
them to continue to receive important local television news and
emergency information by purchasing a converter box at a reduced cost.”
If an eligible household has redeemed one coupon
toward the purchase of a TV converter box and the other coupon has
expired, then it will be approved for a single replacement coupon.
Consumers may apply for replacement coupons in
accordance with existing program application rules by…
● visiting
http://www.DTV2009.gov,
● calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009),
● mailing an application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208 or
● faxing an application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632).
● Deaf or hard of hearing callers may use
1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
Focus on senior citizens
Senior citizens have been a special focus in the
effort be help Americans make the conversion to digital television. The
Senate’s Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on the topic in 2007.
Later, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI), chairman of the committee, helped convene
the Keeping Seniors Connected Coalition.
He led the Coalition in a push to obtain federal
funding for those community outreach groups on the frontlines of the DTV
transition. The coalition determined that seniors would need targeted
education, assistance in navigating the federal government’s converter
box coupon program, and one-on-one support for converter box
installation.
In November 2008, Chairman Kohl hailed NTIA’s
announcement of an award in the amount of $2.7 million to the National
Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) to help seniors make the
transition to digital television.
No longer a waiting list
NTIA also announced that the Coupon Program has
eliminated its waiting list and is processing all coupon requests as
they come in with a maximum 9 business day turnaround time.
On January 4, 2009, the Coupon Program reached its
funding ceiling and placed incoming coupon requests on a waiting list,
to be fulfilled as previously issued coupons expired. The American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided NTIA $650 million to issue
at least 12.25 million more coupons, to start mailing coupons via first
class mail and to ensure vulnerable populations are prepared for the
transition from analog-to-digital television transmission.
Applications are now being processed on a first
come, first served basis while supplies last.
“I urge all consumers who are still unprepared for
the transition to act today to get their converter boxes and resolve any
technical issues well ahead of the June 12 deadline,” Gomez added.
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What the Conversion Means For You?
If you have one or more analog televisions that receive free
over-the-air TV programming with an outdoor antenna or “rabbit
ears” on the TV, you will need to be prepared. You have three
options:
1) purchase and connect a “digital-to-analog converter
box” to your analog TV;
2) purchase a digital television (a TV
with a built-in digital tuner); or
3) subscribe to a paid
service such as cable or satellite TV.
Each U.S. household is
eligible to receive two $40 coupons to be used toward the
purchase of two digital-to-analog converter boxes.
Even though the DTV transition deadline has been pushed back,
your local broadcast stations may complete the transition before
June 12th.
Broadcast stations are required to notify their
viewers before shutting off their analog channels. If you are
not yet prepared for the DTV transition, it’s important to
prepare.
It’s also important to watch your local broadcast
channels for on-air announcements or you may contact them
directly for more information. |
“Americans can start experiencing the benefits of
digital television with more programming choices and clearer reception
as soon as they hook up their converter box.”
Consumers can receive digital television today by
purchasing and connecting a TV converter box (with or without a
government coupon); buying a digital TV; or subscribing to cable,
satellite or another pay service. Consumers who currently have coupons
in hand should use them immediately.
The coupons may not be used as a rebate and must be
presented to the retailer at the time of purchase.
The DTV Delay Act established June 12, 2009, as the
final date by which all full-power television stations in the country
will be required to shut down analog broadcasts. However, some stations
have already sitched to digital and more may choose to switch before the
deadline.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
announced that, of the nation's nearly 1,800 full-power televisions
stations, a total of 641 stations (36%) terminated their analog signals
as of February 17, 2009. More information on the digital television
transition is available by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) or by
going on-line to the Web site www.DTV.gov.
About the TV Converter Box Coupon Program
The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety
Act of 2005 Act originally required full-power television stations to
cease analog broadcasts and switch to digital by February 17, 2009.
The Act authorized NTIA to create the TV Converter
Box Coupon Program, which was funded initially by airwaves auction
proceeds. The Act originally funded the Program at $1.5 billion, which
included a limit of $1.34 billion for ordered and redeemed coupons, with
the remaining $160 million covering administrative costs. Funds are
obligated as coupons are issued. If coupons are not used and expire,
those funds are returned to the Program to fill requests.
On January 4, 2009, the Coupon Program reached its
initial $1.34 billion obligation limit for active and redeemed coupons
and established a waiting list of coupon requests. On February 17, 2009,
President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 (ARRA), which provides funding to implement DTV Delay Act’s
extension of the Coupon Program. Specifically, the ARRA authorizes $650
million for additional coupons and related activities.
The transition to digital broadcast television will
free up the airwaves for better communications among emergency first
responders and for new telecommunications services and offers consumers
a clearer picture and more programming choices.
The TV Converter Box Coupon Program permits all
households to request up to two coupons - each worth $40 - toward the
purchase of certified converter boxes. Coupons may be requested while
supplies last, and only one coupon can be used for each coupon-eligible
converter box.
Consumers can purchase a converter box at one of
the more than 32,000 participating local, phone or online retailer
locations. Consumers will receive a list of eligible converter boxes
and participating retailers with their coupons and may search for a
local retailer on-line at
https://www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx.
Consumers should call stores before shopping to
ensure the desired converter box is available. Converter boxes
generally cost between $40 and $80 without a coupon, and coupons expire
90 days from the date they are mailed.
When consumers receive their coupons in the mail,
they should buy a converter box as soon as possible, and try the box
with their television to address any potential technical issues. Some
viewers watch programs over translators or other low-power stations,
which may continue broadcasting analog signals after the digital
television transition deadline. Those viewers may wish to select a
converter box that will pass through analog signals.
How to apply
Households may apply for coupons online at
www.DTV2009.gov, by phone at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), via fax at
1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632) or by mail to P.O. Box 2000, Portland,
OR 97208-2000. Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634
(English TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish TTY). Nursing home residents
may apply with the paper application available downloadable at
www.DTV2009.gov. For more information about the Coupon Program, please
visit www.DTV2009.gov and for questions about the DTV transition, go to
www.dtv.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC.
Information Source:
About the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information
Administration is an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that
serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for
advising the President on telecommunications and information policies.
For more information about the NTIA, visit www.ntia.doc.gov.
About the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17,
2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or
save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing
long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.
The Act is an extraordinary response to promote economic recovery and
growth, and includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure,
enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve
and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect
those in greatest need.
>> For more information about the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act, visit
http://www.Recovery.gov.
