tv not working in 2009 and $40 coupons???

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Feds share coupons to help TV transition (AP)

Posted on Tue Jan 1, 2008 12:34PM EST

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WASHINGTON - Millions of $40 government coupons become available Tuesday 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 Tuesday, 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 http://www.dtv2009.gov

starting

Tuesday. 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.

Tony Wilhelm, director of consumer education for NTIA, said the agency expects

to have

enough coupons to satisfy demand. " We think the high number will be 26 million, "

he

said. " Low end is 10 million. "

Members of Congress have criticized both the National Telecommunications and

Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission for their

work

on the transition to digital television.

In November, the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative arm,

released

a report that concluded there is " no comprehensive plan " for the transition.

Most of the concern rests with public education campaigns. While Congress

allocated $1.5

billion for the coupon program, only $5 million was for education. The

Association for

Public Television Stations reported in September that 51 percent of participants

surveyed

were unaware that the transition was taking place.

Since then, the broadcast industry has announced a voluntary public education

campaign.

The FCC is circulating a plan among commissioners that would make public

education

efforts by broadcasters mandatory.

Congress ordered the transition to digital broadcasting to make more efficient

use of the

publicly owned airwaves.

On Jan. 24, the FCC will auction off the spectrum currently used for analog

television. That

portion of the airwaves will be sold to wireless providers and is expected to

bring in as

much as $15 billion. A portion of the spectrum will also be dedicated for use by

emergency responders.

___

On the Web:

FCC information: http://www.dtv.gov/