Best Buy Co., Target Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and more than 100 other retailers will accept $40 government-funded coupons on converter boxes that will let television viewers keep using older sets after a switch to digital TV in 2009.
TV converter-box coupons coming
December 12, 2007 at 3:20AM
U.S. households are allowed two coupons starting Feb. 17, a year before TV stations must switch to all-digital signals, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) said Tuesday.
The agency said it is distributing the coupons to help finance boxes that may cost about $60 to $70 each. Digital TV offers clearer pictures and more programming, and frees spectrum space for communications among emergency responders. Analog TVs that aren't hooked up to cable or satellite will need a converter to receive a picture after the switch.
The Federal Communications Commission said raising consumer awareness of the coupon program is part of its plan to implement the transition. The agency issued a 99-page report Tuesday in response to the Government Accountability Office, which said the FCC didn't have a comprehensive strategy to measure progress and results of the transition.
Circuit City Stores Inc., Sears Holdings Corporation's Kmart, RadioShack Corp. and Wal-Mart's Sam's Club were among those certified to accept the coupons, NTIA said. Other Minnesota retailers on the list are Computer Run Inc. of Thief River Falls, Minnesota Electronics Inc. of Sauk Rapids and YMK Enterprises of Grand Rapids.
The 33.5 million coupons will also be available by request online, by mail and over the phone. About two-thirds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, NTIA said.
The agency, a unit of the U.S. Commerce Department, approved converter boxes from makers including Zenith, Magnavox and Philco.
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