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Senate Committee Seeks Flexibility with DTV Coupons

May 19, 2008

Currently the laws concerning DTV coupons do not allow consumers to use them after they have expired - they are valid for three months then consumers must reapply for coupons - nor can consumers preorder DTV converter boxes. Senate Commerce Committee chairman Daniel Inouya (D-Hawaii) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), along with nine other senators, would like to change this citing concerns that consumers may not be able to use the coupons before they expire.

The senators would like the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which administers the DTV coupon program, to allow viewers to reapply for the coupons if funding permits. They would also like the NTIA to consider such "novel approaches" as letting the coupons apply to DTV converter boxes which are out-of-stock or not yet available at retailers.

DTV Coupons Mailed in February May Be Close to Expiration

The NTIA began mailing the coupons to consumers in February, which means many may be about to expire. The intent of the 90-day coupon expiration date was to prevent fraud or a secondary market for the coupons.

While it's estimated that between 13 to 21 million American households will need DTV converter boxes to access digital television signals, only 2.5 million people have requested the NTIA coupons to date.

Analog Televisions Become Obsolete in 2009

In February 2009, television networks will begin airing their broadcasts in digital signals only. This means that viewers who currently receive programming via an antenna, and do not have cable or satellite service, will need to purchase a digital converter box to view television when the new broadcasts start.