Funding For TV Coupons Runs Out

At Solid Signal of Novi, owner Jerry Chapman says sales of TV converter boxes have doubled in the past month after a government public service campaign alerting people that TV signals switch from analog to digital on Feb. 17.

Converter boxes are needed for people who don’t have cable or satellite service, or who have older analog signal TV sets.

“Right now we’re shipping 5,000 to 7,000 boxes a week,” says Chapman. “That’s ramped up from two months ago when we were doing 3,000 boxes a week.”

But the urgency may evaporate in the coming weeks before the Feb. 17 switch to digital.

President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team on Thursday asked Congress to extend the Feb. 17 cutoff of analog broadcasting.

The federal program subsidizing the cost of the converter boxes through $40 coupons has run out of money for now, meaning that people are on a waiting list for the coupons to defray the costs of the boxes.

Congress in 2005 authorized the switch from analog broadcasting to digital, selling off digital bandwidth to free up analog bandwidth for other uses.

But until recently, people have been slow to sign up for the coupons that defray the cost of the boxes.

“We’re probably in the 11th hour,” says Chapman. “Most people have a clear understanding that something’s coming. I would say 90 percent of the people know what they need. About 10 percent are still clueless as to what they need. That’s a huge change from not too long ago.”

From the state of Michigan’s point of view, television is among the most common ways to get public safety or emergency information, and officials urge people with analog signals to sign up for the converters.

“The news, weather and community information we receive from television could be critical to our families,” said Gov. Jennifer Granholm. “We do not want any Michigan family to be left without this vital information.”

Michigan has a helpline available with live operators to answer questions and/or help citizens order a coupon to be used toward the purchase of a converter box.

The Michigan DTV Helpline is sponsored by Don-Lors Electronics and can be reached by calling toll free to (888) 643-8809 or visiting the Michigan DTV Web site at www.michiganDTV.com for more information.

With or without a coupon, the boxes, which cost between $40 and $70 are in plentiful supply.

“The big vendors have done a good job of making sure they have enough supply,” says Chapman.

He carries 20 varieties depending on what someone needs.

For example, nursing homes might prefer converter boxes with large buttons for the vision impaired. Some people care about color. Some boxes have extra features.

Meanwhile, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights encourages people to get ona waiting list for the coupons. It estimates it’ll take four to six weeks for someone to receive a coupon once it is requested.The group urges people to use coupons not used by friends or neighbors to offset the costs of the boxes.

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