Waiting list in place for digital TV converter box coupons

Waiting list in place for digital TV converter box coupons
New applicants put on hold until more funds are freed up
Jon Yates What's Your Problem?
January 7, 2009
The picture just got fuzzier for those of you who waited until the last minute to apply for the federal government's $40 TV converter box coupons.With demand skyrocketing, the agency that oversees the program has exhausted the coupons it has on hand, so new applicants are being placed on a waiting list.That means if you apply for a coupon today, it might not arrive before Feb. 17, when TV broadcasters are mandated to switch from analog to digital signals.Without a converter box, analog televisions that are not hooked up to cable or a satellite service will not be able to receive digital signals after the switch.
Todd Sedmak, a spokesman for the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said viewers who have not yet applied for the coupons need to consider alternatives."If you're someone who needs to make the switch and you haven't gotten your coupon yet, you can buy a converter box without a coupon," he said. "You can buy a new TV or subscribe to cable or satellite service."In October, the Problem Solver set up a coupon-sharing program called Converter Boxes For Everyone. Almost 1,000 readers requested coupons from the Problem Solver after having problems with the federal system. More than 800 readers donated coupons.Many of you explained that you cannot afford the boxes, which cost $40 to $80, without the coupons. The latest glitch is a reflection of how the federal program was set up. In creating the program, Congress placed a $1.34 billion cap on the amount the government could promise in coupons at any one time. The cap includes coupons that have been redeemed or have been issued but not yet turned in or expired.The coupons are coded to expire in 90 days. When an unused coupon expires, $40 is put back into the program's budget and a new coupon is issued to the next person on the waiting list.As of Monday, the waiting list was 103,000 coupons, Sedmak said. According to federal statistics, roughly 300,000 unused coupons expire each week, meaning an equal number of new coupons will be printed and distributed. Given those numbers, it is possible applicants will spend only a short time on the waiting list.But even before the waiting list, it took three to four weeks for applicants to receive coupons. With 41 days before the switch, any delay could push the turnaround time past Feb. 17.And a flood of fresh applications is expected as the switch date draws near. In December, the government received 7 million coupon requests; 4.5 million had been anticipated. So far, the government says it has sent coupons to 12.6 million households that rely on televisions with antennas. The Nielsen Co. said in January 2007 that 14.3 million households rely on over-the-air television.So if you need the coupons and you haven't applied, do so immediately.It wouldn't hurt to also prepare a backup plan.yourproblem@tribune.com