With a view to help ease the upcoming transition from analog to digital, the Commerce Department announced that it would offer $40 discount coupons for the purpose of buying digital converter boxes for analog TV users. All analog TV users no matter what their income will be able to receive the coupons.
The estimated costs of the converter boxes will be from $50 to $60.
J
ohn Kneuer, head of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA), a Commerce Department agency responsible for the converter box coupon program, said that "There are a number of options for consumers to effect transition on their own ... This program is one option for consumers."
He added that a system should be in place to process the coupons on January 1, 2008. All analog households can make requests for up to two coupons.
This is a continuing concern for the government as studies show that millions of Americans aren't very familar with what's happening or know about the upcoming deadline. It could be a nightmare if the story isn't spread to those that need it. The consequences would be the TVs going dark if the users don't have a convertor box for their analog television sets.
Another big concern is for those that think they're covered, but in reality only have part of their homes with cable and others that don't. The consequences would be some televisions working and others not working.
The deadline date for U.S. television stations to switch to digital only broadcasts is February 17, 2009.
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