The big “digital broadcasting switch” which we’ve mentioned before will be here in the U.S. sooner rather than later. It’s scheduled to take place no later than February 17, 2009 which means at this point, those who still use rabbit-ears or a roof-top antenna need to do something a bout it. Nielson Co. has estimated that around 13 percent of television households in the United States still rely on conventional TV broadcasting which is why the government has decided to help. If you fall under the “analog” TV category and don’t intend to upgrade to digital before the FCC’s given date, you’re eligible for a $40 coupon.
In all, the government has set aside $1.5 billion for the program. Part of it is to educate people on the change coming up because many don’t even know it’s going to happen, but part of it is also going to be used for the coupons. A total of $33.5 million has been set aside specifically for those who need to buy a converter box. The first 22 million coupons will go to people who make a request for one. They’re using the “honor system” (hard to believe, I know) – and so anybody can go request a coupon. If you have one digital TV and another TV in the house in which you use rabbit ears, you qualify for a coupon and can request one. The rest of the coupons will go to those who don’t subscribe to any type of cable/satellite/or other paid service.
To apply for a coupon to purchase a TV converter box, or learn more about the Digital TV transition, go here.
Source: Lifehacker
The few television commercials I’ve seen for this campaign intrigue me. I find it interesting that they’re using the “digital is better than analog” argument, which I believe to be a flaky argument at best. Of course, it would probably piss people off immensely if they said “we’re making you switch to digital so we can create a cash cow by selling more bandwidth to networks. Oh, and we’re going to devote some of that released bandwidth to ‘public safety organizations’ so we can find more innovative ways to spy on people!”
Call me cynical. Call me a conspiracy theorist. Show me the truth in advertising, first.
I’m surprised you’ve actually seen a commercial for this because I have yet to see one!
And I live in Canada, but we get all the major US networks up here anyway! We apparently don’t have to complete the switch until August 2011. Guess we get to learn from your mistakes! LOL
And I’m sure there will be a lot of mistakes along the way! I can’t imagine this is going to be an easy transition for some people.
I live in Canada and wish that we had the coupon to get the converter box also. We watch 95% US stations so without the box well I am not going to be able to watch tv anymore. I don’t think its fair that we cant get a coupon to purchase these boxes and have to pay full price if we want to continue to watch US channels
I was trying to find out more about this switch for my grandparents who don’t have the internet and have no idea what is really going on. They thought they had to buy a bran new TV!!! This coupon thing is ridiculous! Why shouldn’t it be offered to Canadians too?