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Official DTV Converter Box Coupons for Americans

Posted by timothy on from the please-define-boondoggle dept.

Ant writes "The official Digital Television/DTV Converter Box Coupon Program is now online. Congress created it for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets and use over-the-air antennae to get TV feeds. After February 17, 2009. The Program allows American households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes. A TV connected to cable, satellite, or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program."

7 of 375 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Finally! by el_chupanegre · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In the UK we've had public TV and radio ad's for months telling you about what you need to do when the changeover occurs, with a free number to call with questions. We don't get free coupons though.

  2. Re:From a UK perspective by richie2000 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    We've started switching over to digital - at least one area has had the analogue TV signal switched off altogether - and set top boxes to decode a digital signal have been on the market for some time. Sweden turned off the last analog signal a few months ago.

    Interestingly, televisions without inbuilt digital decoding are still on the market today - though I can't think why. Many people live in apartments where the landlord does the decoding, or they already use a satellite receiver which also decodes to analog. The remaining market that only uses DVB-T is actually pretty small, estimates put it at around 30% of the total market (in Swede, YMMV).
    --
    Money for nothing, pix for free
  3. Getting the word out.. by s31523 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at www.dtv2009.gov. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009). I imagine that many people who need these boxes don't have internet access and will never see the phone number displayed anywhere, except the internet. Poor grandma will just see white fuzz on the morning of Feb. 18 2009 instead of The Price Is Right.
  4. Priorities? by Max+Romantschuk · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In Finland we switched over to purely digital terrestrial broadcasting last year. And most people did indeed have to get a DVB-T STB (Set Top Box) in order to watch TV. Despite of this, the government did not subsidize this this switchover in any way. I find it almost sad that the United States government are willing to pay for something like this when Finland's (already broken) public healthcare system it still way better than it's US counterpart.

    OK, so I might be trolling, but doesn't it say something about a society when TV is regarded as something important enough to subsidize? (Disclaimer: Finland has it's own equivalent to the BBC though, YLE.)

    --
    .: Max Romantschuk :: http://max.romantschuk.fi/
  5. Re:Finally! by rjune · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I guess I'm one of those who fall into that group. I'm not a technophobe, we have Road Runner for high speed access and I have an extensive home network set up with wired and wireless connections. I could not do my job with a computer. However, Cable or satellite TV is a massive time sink and we (my family and I) have better things to do: Some of them: Read books (lots of books for the kids), play outside in both neighborhood sports and on organized teams, play and practice musical instruments, provide computer support for my son's school (currently we are converting the computer lab to thin clients), serve on a board that funds volunteer projects, serve in the AF Reserve, exercise, etc. etc.

    We watch an hour or two of TV, ER and Mystery so we will need a converter. I suppose I'll buy a HDTV eventually, but like computers they are constantly getting faster, better, and cheaper. I'll wait for another couple of years.

    I'm not saying there is anything wrong with cable or satellite -- if we had it I would park in front of the History Channel, it is just a matter of priorities.

  6. Re:Finally! by willbry · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I think if more people in the US knew what they could get for free, they'd be all over this. I was amazed, after cancelling cable and living on 2-3 analog broadcast television for a few months, that I could get 30+ crystal clear channels over-the-air. Sure, I miss the daily show, but it's not worth $45/month or so that cable charges.

    I'll stick with free, over-the-air digital television as long as it is available, and keep blogging about it.

    williambryson.blogspot.com

  7. Re:It's finally happened by AusIV · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Exactly. When I first heard about this, I thought it was ridiculous that tax payer dollars would go towards paying so people could keep watching TV. I could see a little justification that the FCC is forcing the antequation of millions if not billions of dollars worth of televisions, and the people using bunny ears are the least likely to be able to afford to replace their televisions.


    But now that I realize this funding is coming from the sale of the 700 mhz spectrum (of which bidding is expected to start in the $4 billion range), I feel that any expenses endured due to the sale of the spectrum ought to be covered by the sale of the spectrum. If the sale of the 700 mhz spectrum can't cover the costs of selling the 700 mhz spectrum, then we shouldn't be selling it. While I am looking forward to the new services that will (hopefully) become available on the spectrum, it seems like the FCC is getting ready to profit by selling millions of televisions that they don't own. They're selling America short by not covering all of the costs of the transition.