Need a digital TV coupon? Get thee to a wait list
Anybody else sort of see this one coming?
It's a matter of weeks before the U.S. cuts out analog television signals entirely, switching to an all-digital market, but the fund established by the government to provide $40 subsidies to people who need to purchase digital converter boxes is out of money and has established a wait list. More than 100,000 people had already been wait-listed as of Monday, USA Today reported.
So, if you rely on "rabbit ears" and are still in need of that coupon, here's what to do. The application process on the TV converter box Web site is still the same, but now, you'll be put in line for the first-come, first-served waiting list as more funds become available. You'll also be given a reference number, much like a package-tracking number, that you can input into the Web site to check up on the status and check up on your estimated mailing date.
The all-digital transition is set for February 17, which means that more than 70 million analog televisions in the U.S. will be rendered useless unless they have the proper converter boxes to work with their indoor ("rabbit ears") or outdoor antennae. USA Today reported that the Department of Commerce's National Television and Information Administration isn't sure when more funds will be available, and attributed the shortage to a surge in coupon requests late in 2008 that exceeded expectations.
One option for the government is to delay the analog-to-digital transition--again. In the meantime, the Web site recommends some pricier alternatives: buy a converter box without the coupon, buy a digital TV, or subscribe to cable or satellite programming.
Or you could just ditch your TV and just go outside instead. The digital TV transition Web site, however, does not suggest that.
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline. 
do you seriously believe that the average person watches ANY tv shows online??
sorry to burst your bubble but we're a good 10 - 15 solid years away from viewing television shows mostly over the web.
this is a technology the the majority of americans do not even know enough about to even begin to do it on a regular basis.
@botscop -- While the government is certainly skilled at shortchanging the taxpayer, I doubt this is the case here. The government is making gazillions of dollars from the licensing of the spectrum that is being freed up by the digital conversion, and I suspect a chunk of that was used for the coupon fund.
Why would we want to get digital TV coupons? For to many years, the bean counter accountants have cut down the quality of
TV shows to all most zero. Do we really want to watch cheaply produced, reality based TV shows, of fat people
climbing dirt piles on the brooklyn bridge in HD? Or a guy who looks like a evil, bald headed Las Vegas pimp, who has his cheer leaders holding metal briefcases in the background in HD.
According to the Nielsen ratings Television viewer ship is dropping rapidly. Americans want well written scripts, and good acting. They could care less if they can see the zits in HD.
I find my local newscasters are very hard to look at in my HD, Multi-Bad facelifts and excesive lip coligen treatments look bad in HD for the older TV anchors. They should just let them selfselfs look
old and experinced, even if they are just plain stupid over paid idots spewing right wing crap!
Too funny, Bobby...
Get used to it, folks. You're going to be standing in line for a lot of things these coming months and years.
If I really want to watch something, I'm sure I can find it here on the 'net.
It may be a bit late to stop the conversion to digital TV. Perhaps part of the bailout money can be used to keep broadcasting in analog too till the bugs are worked out?
geez, how will I get my ginger fix?
- by jmh21586 January 27, 2009 2:10 PM PST
- Anybody that accepts these coupons and uses them is a complete looser. Why do I have to go to work everyday and work hard just to pay taxes so that money can be spent to pay for some bums tv to work??
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(24 Comments)Are you telling me these loosers couldn't save up $40-$50 over a four year period since this program was introduced to buy their own damn converters?? People should be ashamed.