Gov't runs out of cash for DTV converter box coupons

Mon Jan 5, 2009 6:57PM EST

See Comments (114)

If you haven't applied for one of the $40 converter box coupons yet, you'll have to sign up on a waiting list—which already has tens of thousands of names on it. Will Congress come to the rescue?

The AP reports that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the agency that's handling the DTV converter box coupon program, has burned through its $1.34 billion budget for the coupons.

That's bad news for those over-the-air analog TV viewers who need help paying for a DTV converter box, but haven't yet applied for coupons—or did apply, but allowed their coupons to expire. (You can apply for up to two coupons per household.)

Meanwhile, the analog shutoff date is alarmingly close: February 17, 2009, to be exact.

Now, the news isn't all bad. Each DTV converter box coupon expires 90 days after it was issued, and the NTIA is estimating (according to the AP) that about 350,000 coupons will expire each week until (and through) the Feb. 17 deadline.

As those coupons expire, money is released back into the program, allowing those currently on the waiting list to get new coupons. Even so, officials warn that those on the waiting list probably won't get their coupons until after the deadline passes.

In the meantime, NTIA administrators are calling on Congress to approve more money or allow the department to issue new coupons without waiting for unused coupons to expire, according to the AP.

So, need a coupon but haven't applied yet? Well, get thee to DTV2009.gov and sign up ASAP, and check out our complete guide to the DTV transition.

Related:
Feds start wait list for DTV converter box coupons [AP]

Comments on Gov't runs out of cash for DTV converter box coupons

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  • 6 Posted by penthrice on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    To magpagbst, this is not a gift card or a check. It is a coupon, meaning that it can only be used to purchase a DTV converter box. BTW I ordered mine about 2 months ago and received it last week. I agree that they should have had more funds available, but they have asked for more than what they received too.

  • 7 Posted by lanerdion on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    DTY good unless the wind blows then it sucks

  • 8 Posted by intouch_atoka1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    Makes you wonder whos relative need money and came up with this idea?

  • 9 Posted by barbara_wilson2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't think we as taxpayers should be funding the coupon program just so people can have TV in their homes. How much more can taxpayers be asked to pay for these types of programs. It's not like this program just happened overnight. Save $10 a month for four months-- less than two packs of cigarettes or a couple of cases of soda and go buy yourself a converter box. Is it not enough we pay billions annually in taxes to fund pork projects like this? This was a stupid plan from the start.

  • 10 Posted by sailheaven on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Somebodys_here (post #2) is not alone. Twice I applied for these coupons and twice they did not arrive. I don't have cable so I'm definitely out of luck in this. If the government legislated the end of a technology rendering millions of televisions useless then the government should definitely help to make that transition. This program spent millions on promotion, but it has been a failure from what I have seen.

  • 11 Posted by mswilson74 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    OH MY GOD, the world will end if people don't have a TV!!!

  • 12 Posted by barakabrat on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm just not exactly sure why ANYONE thought this would be a good idea. Force people to update their TVs? That's just nuts. They just shouldn't do the whole broadcast everything in HD thing. Or at least start doing it later when the converter box thing will be less of an issue.

  • 13 Posted by tbabe29 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's not the government's fault that people don't know how to save money towards what is important to them. TV is a privelege, not an entitlement. Listen to the radio if you can't sheck up enough money to buy a converter box without a coupon.

  • 14 Posted by sarah_smile73 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Having to go through the trouble of getting the coupons is bad enough...but I had no idea they EXPIRED. I thought they were at least good until the switch-over. But NOOOOO!!!!! Ours expired and now we can't use them. Friggin government. Oh well. We have satellite anyway except for the local channels. Worst case scenario, I'll miss American Idol. I can watch the replays on the internet anyway.

  • 15 Posted by jennymarie78 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Tbabe29---maybe you should save your money for hooked on phonics because you can't spell.

  • 16 Posted by anncarletta on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    Since the only people who need these coupons are those who don't have cable, the broadcast networks should jump at the opportunity to provide the boxes and keep these people from becoming cable subscribers. If the viewers have to spend money just to get a box and a few broadcast channels, why not spend the same amount of money on a cable subscription! You won't need the box and you'll have 100 channels. The networks don't need to lose anymore viewers to cable.

  • 17 Posted by anncarletta on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    Since the only people who need these coupons are those who don't have cable, the broadcast networks should jump at the opportunity to provide the boxes and keep these people from becoming cable subscribers. If the viewers have to spend money just to get a box and a few broadcast channels, why not spend the same amount of money on a cable subscription! You won't need the box and you'll have 100 channels. The networks don't need to lose anymore viewers to cable.

  • 18 Posted by pagirl4t on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    . I do think it is unreasonable to expect the government to sink in so much money in this DTV coupon program--there are seriously better causes to use money (you know we, the paying tax payers are paying for it out of our pocket anyway). Also, if one is so concerned with receiving a coupon one should have applied long ago and not have waited so long!

  • 19 Posted by rayzmom91 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't know anyone that doesn't have cable, so it is a non-issue.

  • 20 Posted by brotha_eric on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    The government shouldn't have even offered coupons in the first place. If someone wants tv they can pay their own darn $40 considering the majority of Americans didn't need to apply anyway.

  • 21 Posted by liquid_paradox on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    This would be the equivalent of the government stepping in to upgrade my computer because it wont run Vista. Its the way of technology, keep up or get out of the game. Why does the government always have to provide for everyone? Our bridges and roads are falling apart, but heaven forbid that you would have to go out and spend $40.00 on a converter box. I wonder how the people's family feel that lost someone when the bridge in Minnesota collapsed, 1.34 billion would have gone a long way to fix that bridge and help out those families that are now without someone. Work a couple hours more and buy your own converter box, we arent a socialist economy, so get over it.

  • 22 Posted by tiburon4204@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I requested two coupons about a year ago, recieved them, and used them to buy two converter boxes. The coupons don't allow you to purchase anything other than 1 converter box per coupon - for those out there who stereotypically think that those who need the coupon will use them on other "things." Those who waited till the last minute just proved that the "early bird" does indeed "get the worm."

  • 23 Posted by yoonakim1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I wish that the government would have allocated $0 (that's ZERO DOLLARS) to this program in the first place. Since when did making sure everyone was able to sit on their ass and watch TV become such a national priority that we needed to subsidize it with taxpayer money? If you can't afford to buy a $40 converter box, there are probably many more valuable things you could be doing with your time than watching TV!

  • 24 Posted by bam01376 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    I applied months ago and got mine a couple weeks later. So i don't know why some of you had problems with it. I got mine really quick?

  • 25 Posted by martin_salena on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    This reminds me of when the hurricane hit sometime back (I live in Florida) once the lights were back on the cable did not come back on for at least another 3-4 weeks. so without the converter box how exactly will I remain informed at a time like this. these boxes are needed for more things then just watching tv leisurely. alot of the ppl I know who will really benefit from the box are elderly ( my grandmother is 91 and does not have cable) Im sure shes not going to use the $40 to buy cigarettes

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