indexdollar: Michigan Tightwads An end to anolog TV

Rabu, 02 Januari 2008

Michigan Tightwads An end to anolog TV

This email may not seem appropriate for this group but..........I thought
everyone deserved to know what is about to happen and be able to capitalize
on the coupon mentioned in the article below. To apply for the free $40.00
coupon click on the link below. Below that is the article from the
Associated Press.

http://www.dtv2009.gov

Coupon program begins to help low-tech TV owners convert to digital
broadcasting

JOHN DUNBAR
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Millions of $40 government coupons became 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.

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