In order to help lessen the burden on consumers the federal government has come up with a coupon program that will allow them to save $40 on the purchase of a new digital TV converter box. The program allows each household to request 2 coupons with each one being good for a savings of $40 on their purchase.
Who is eligible to receive a digital analog converter coupon?
All households in the United States and its territories are eligible. The government will be providing an initial total of $1.4 billion in coupons with the first $890 million available to anybody and the remaining $510 million available only to those that do not have cable or other paid television services. This means that there are 22.25 million coupons available in the first batch and another 11.25 million of the restricted coupons. Once the funds are exhausted there will not be any additional ones made available.
When can I apply for a analog digital converter coupon?
The government will begin accepting requests for coupons on January 1, 2008 and will continue accepting request through March 31, 2009. While supplies last. It is expected that all funds will be gone long before March and requests should be made by the fall of 2008 to be sure you get a coupon.
How can I get my own analog digital converter box coupon?
There are four different ways that you can request an analog digital converter coupon. You can request a coupon by mail, through the governments toll-free coupon program phone number, through the governments coupon website, or by fax. Each of these ways is very simple and easy. In order to get your converter coupon you are required to give them your name and address. You are also required to answer one question about your television services and then specify whether you are wanting 1 coupon or 2 coupons. The government has also setup a telephone number for anyone that is hearing impaired.
If you are interested in submitting your application for a coupon over the internet just go to the governments DTV transition website. You can also call the governments 24-hour coupon program hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009 (Hearing Impaired: 1-877-530-2634 (English/TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish/TTY)). Another option includes faxing your coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2. The final option you have is to mail your coupon application to P.O. BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000.
Can coupons be requested through other means such as libraries?
The government is working vigorously to see about other options and locations for offering coupons for digital TV converters but as of today there are not any other options available besides the ones listed above. Some retailers that sell digital analog converters have begun to make coupon applications available at their stores. Applications can be picked up at these stores but will still have to be mailed to the government for processing and receipt of the actual coupon.
How long does it take to receive my coupon once requested?
The government has setup the following staggered dates for when your coupon will be mailed. These are based off of when you submitted your application for a coupon. Delivery is expected 2-9 days from the target mail date.
| Your Application Approval Date | Target Mail Date |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2008 | 2/29/2008 |
| January 2, 2008 | 3/14/2008 |
| January 3 - 6, 2008 | 3/21/2008 |
| January 7 - 13, 2008 | 3/28/2008 |
| January 14 - 30, 2008 | 4/4/2008 |
| January 31 - February 16, 2008 | 4/11/2008 |
| February 17 - 24, 2008 | 4/18/2008 |
| February 25 - March 10, 2008 | 4/25/2008 |
| March 11 - 23, 2008 | 5/2/2008 |
| March 24 - April 7, 2008 | 5/9/2008 |
| April 8 - 22, 2008 | 5/16/2008 |
| April 23 - May 7, 2008 | 5/23/2008 |
| May 8 - 22, 2008 | 5/30/2008 |
| May 23 - 30, 2008 | 6/20/2008 |
| May 31 - June 6, 2008 | 6/27/2008 |
What will my digital TV converter coupon look like?
Converter coupons will look like the typical plastic gift cards that you receive from retail stores. These cards will not carry any sort of stored value on them and can only be used for the purchase of a TV converter.
How many coupons can I request?
The government has set a limited of 2 coupons per household. This basically means 2 coupons per mailing address. The coupons can be requested at the same time or at separate dates.
Can people in nursing homes or group homes request more than 2 digital analog converter coupons?
The government has specific census definitions and they will adhere to these policies regarding the distribution of coupons. Basically put, a household is defined as separate living quarter with a separate mailing address. Anyone who falls into this category can request their own two coupons.
Can someone make a coupon request for another individual that is physically or mentally unable?
Yes, but they will need to use the address and name of the person they are making the coupon request for.
Can I have my analog digital converter coupon/coupons mailed to a P.O. Box?
The government will accept applications from PO Box address only for those homes where individual home mailing addresses are unavailable. Some examples include Indian Reservations, Alaskan Native Villages, and extreme rural areas.
Where can I find more information about the DTV Transition and the analog digital TV coupon program?
More information the DTV Transition and the coupon program can be obtained by calling the governments 24-hour coupons program hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
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