Digital TV Conversion: Are You Equipped?
If not, you might want to read this article.
On 19 17 February 2009, the television industry will complete its transition from analog to digital broadcasting. For those who do not own a digital TV and do not have cable or satellite (*raises hand*), your television will no longer receive a picture.
The only way to get reception is to buy a converter box that will cost between $50 and $70 - but don’t fret. The federal government set aside $1.5 billion in anticipation of the switch and will offer $40 coupons (up to 2/HH) towards the purchase of a converter box. [I think the remaining $10 to $30 should be tax deductible. -- SM] As of this past Tuesday, the NTIA began accepting requests for coupons. Read more about the NTIA Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program and FAQs.
The first 22 million coupons will be issued to any requesting household. The remaining coupons will be limited to households without cable or satellite, based on an honor system. [Why can I envision dishonest people requesting 2 coupons anyway, then trying to sell them on eBay for $20? -- SM] For those who have cable or satellite, your subscriber company will handle the conversion for you - at an additional fee I’m sure.
So if you “need” a converter box, request a $40 coupon now. Converter boxes will be available in electronic stores around Feb or March. The coupons will be mailed at the same time and set to expire within 90 days of issuance.
Now that you’ve been warned 13 months in advance, come February 2009, don’t cry if you can’t watch your favorite reality show. LOL Even the rabbit ears won’t help!
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Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!
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~*~*~*~*~*~Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And always, BE FABULOUS!
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(aka Samantha) Wow…thanks SM, my grandma was just talking about that. I got coupons for her. Thank you for keeping all of us aware!! I really apppreciate it.
OK first of all, now y’all have no reason to forget my 29th birthday, ’cause that’s the exact day when the TV’s become useless without converters.
Secondly, my honey applied for a coupon - we’re good. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks for demystifying this some. The planned conversion was always one of those things that seemed so far out, and here it is nearly upon us!
thanks.. interestingly enough because of where I work.. my company is offering deeper employee discounts to purchase hdtv’s
which I may jump on..
The 90-day expiration of coupons will complicate the plans of dishonest people who seek to get and sell coupons they don’t need.
If you get your coupons in March, they will expire in June, so you won’t be able to sell them after June. If you try to sell them before June, people will just apply for their own coupons instead of buying yours.
If you wait until October to get the coupons, you face the risk that fellow scammers will have already beaten you to all the available coupons.
Yes, it is possible to win at this scam, but you do have to navigate some hoops and some will fail to succeed: a bunch of these coupons will go unused.
I applied for mine the other day, had to go through a hoop because the online form didn’t like my address. Hmph.