Get your coupon(s) now for a

free converter box for your tv.

  Thank you , Elaine of TSA , for the heads up on this one.

 It is never too early to be prepared. I would get your application in so that you get your coupons in plenty of time and avoid a rush at the last minute.

 

 

 

Now is the time to get your free coupons. They are worth $40.00 each and will be for obtaining up to 2 free converter boxes for your tv. Read on for more information :

  

After February 17, 2009, you will be able to receive and view over-the-air digital programming with an analog TV only by purchasing a digital-to-analog set-top converter box.

 

 

 

 Between January 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be able to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the future purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes.

 

 

 Eligible converter boxes are for the conversion of over-the-air digital television signals, and therefore are not intended for analog TVs connected to a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV service.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is administering the coupon program.

 

For more information, visit the NTIA website at www.dtv2009.gov.

 

 

The Commission’s DTV website, www.dtv.gov, also provides information for consumers on the upcoming digital-to-analog converter box coupon program.

 

 

 

 

 More detailed information regarding NTIA’s coupon program, what digital-to-analog converter boxes will be eligible, where and when they may be purchased, and the related costs involved will be provided by the Commission and NTIA as the commencement of the coupon program on January 1, 2008, approaches.

  

For low-income homes , here is a form and information about where to send in for your free converter coupons :

 https://www.dtv2009.gov/docs/Coupon_Program_App_en.pdf    

 

 

 

UPDATE , courtesy of the generous information supplied by Elaine of TSA !  THANK YOU ELAINE ! YOU ROCK , AS USUAL !

From: njpirg.org


Many people responded to last week's email with comments and questions about the digital television (DTV) transition.

We also got some great coverage in the press to help raise the profile of this issue. (You can find those articles at www.uspirg.org/media-internet/dtv.) In response to our report release, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said that there is now a proposal in place to create an interagency task force that will try to spread the information about this transition.

As some of you noted, the issue is confusing. We want to make sure that everyone has the correct information, so please forward this to your friends, family or anyone else who might find it helpful.

Here's a quick list of frequently asked questions (and our answers) that I put together after reading your e-mail messages:

What's the deal with the coupons?

Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed and can only be used on eligible models (basic converters) at eligible retailers. Currently Best Buy, Radio Shack, Circuit City and Wal-Mart are selling eligible converter boxes. You may want to call to check that local stores have adequate stocks of converters before you order your coupons. You can apply for coupons until March 31, 2009 or until supplies run out. You can locate retailers near you here: https://www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx

Do I need to worry if I already use cable or satellite?

If your TV is connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service, you won't need a TV converter box from this program. You should, however, check with your provider on their plans, as some providers may move some or all of their programming to a digital tier (which could cost you more money in monthly fees).

How does this affect me if I live in a rural area or a place with poor reception?

Translator and low-power television stations are not required to go all-digital after February 17, 2009. Viewers of these broadcast stations should contact their station for details. As these stations go digital, consumers will need to take action to continue to receive their free TV with an antenna and may want to consider applying for TV converter box coupons.

Will I need to buy a new antenna?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that anyone owning an antenna that is capable of receiving analog signals should be able to use that same antenna to receive digital signals. So you should probably try to use your old antenna before buying a new one. However, some stations will be moving to a different channel in a different frequency band that may require a different antenna type from the one you may now have. For example, some channels in the "VHF band" (Channels 2-13) may be moving to the "UHF band" (Channels 14-51) and vice versa. Here's a tool we found that will help you figure out what type of antenna you need: http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

What if I want more information?

If you have more questions, check out https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx or call 1-888-DTV-2009.

To stay updated on changes related to the DTV transition and other important consumer issues, subscribe to the U.S. PIRG Consumer blog: http://static.uspirg.org/consumer/index.xml?id4=ES



http://www.NJPIRG.org

P.S.  Thanks again for your support.  Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.

 

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