TV Converter Box
The Office
of Community Services is forwarding the following information
received from National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the current status
of the TV Converter Box Coupon program.
The action taken by Congress on February 4, 2009, to postpone the
conclusion of the digital television transition to June 12, 2009, means
American consumers will have additional time to prepare for this
historic switch. This piece of legislation, however, does not change
the operation of the TV Converter Box Coupon Program at the current
time.
The DTV Delay Act passed by Congress does not include funds for
additional coupons. An additional $650 million is proposed for the
Coupon Program the H.R. 1, the stimulus legislation, which must pass in
order for NTIA to distribute additional coupons beyond what it can
distribute with funds from expiring coupons. This legislation is also
required for some of the provisions outlined in the DTV Delay Act to be
enacted, including the ability of the Assistant Secretary to allow
consumers whose coupons have expired to reapply for replacement coupons.
At this time, a consumer who tries to reapply for a coupon that has
expired, or was lost or stolen, will be denied.
Consumers who have not applied for a TV Converter Box Coupon may still
do so, but they will be placed on a waiting list. Requests from eligible
households continue to be filled as funds become available from expired
and unredeemed coupons. NTIA's #1 priority is to eliminate the waiting
list but it cannot do so until legislation providing additional funding
is passed. If and when Congress authorizes additional funding, NTIA
will alert our partner groups and provide you with information to share
with your constituencies.
While June 12th is now the last date by which all full-power television
stations in the country will be required to shut down analog broadcasts,
some stations and entire markets may choose to switch between now and
then. Consumers in over-the-air (OTA) households are strongly
encouraged to act immediately to start receiving digital television
broadcasts. Those who are ready are asked to help a friend or neighbor
prepare as soon as possible.
Consumers can receive digital television today by purchasing 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. If they no longer need the coupon and it has not expired,
they may give it to a friend, neighbor, or family member if they need a
coupon. NTIA appreciates your contributions and looks forward to
working with you to use these additional four months to ensure that no
household loses television service.
NTIA is currently in the process of updating all materials on the TV
Converter Box Coupon Program Web site www.DTV2009.gov
www.dtv2009.gov/
The Federal Communications Commission has released a list of full-power
TV broadcast stations terminating analog service on or before February
17, 2009. That list can be found:
www.hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-221A3.xls
www.hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-221A3.xls