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Federal Government Offering Coupons to Ease TV Transition
by Cherie Duvall
Elected officials are encouraged to inform their citizens of a coupon program that’s in place to help owners of older televisions buy converter boxes in anticipation of the nation’s switch to digital broadcasting.
Starting February 17, 2009, all full-power TV stations are required to cease analog broadcast and only broadcast in digital. Since TV converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 at participating retailers, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. The program allows U.S. households up to two $40 coupons to help pay for the converter boxes.
To help elected officials spread the word about the transition and the coupon program, the Department of Commerce has created branded material for the digital television campaign. The material, which can be downloaded in the partner section of www.dtv2009.gov, includes banner ads to put on cities’ websites, background information on the transition and scripts for radio public service announcements. For the PSAs, it is recommended that cities work with their local broadcasters to produce them for government channels.
Those who will be affected by the transition are citizens who use rabbit ears or rooftop antennas with their analog TVs. Besides buying a converter box, owners of these older TVs can buy TVs with digital tuners or connect the analog TVs to cable, satellite or other pay services in order to receive a picture.
The principal mission of the transition is to enable first responders to use the analog frequencies to improve their communication in the event of an emergency.
Details: For more information, call (888) DTV-2009 or visit www.dtv2009.gov.
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