Sledgstone 8,672 Report post Posted March 2, 2008 http://www.tvpredictions.com/dtvcount010308.htm Feds: 500,000 Ask For Digital TV CouponsThe total reflects activity in the first 40 hours. By Swanni Washington, D.C. (January 3, 2008) -- More than 500,000 people have requested Digital TV converter box coupons since Tuesday, according to the federal government. The feds on Tuesday began taking applications for the $40 coupons. On February 17, 2009, broadcasters will be required by law to switch from analog to digital signals. Viewers then will need a Digital TV, a pay TV subscription or a Digital TV converter box to watch television. To ease the transition, the federal government has allocated $1.5 billion to issue two $40 converter box coupons to any American who requests them. The converter boxes, which are expected to cost around $60, will allow old analog TVs to display the new digital signals. Broadcasting & Cable Magazine reports that almost all people requesting the $40 coupons are asking for two each. However, there is no information on who is asking for the coupons and whether they are in the group most likely to need them. Low income and elderly residents, groups most likely to get their TV signals via antennas, are considered to be most in need of the converters. However, the coupons are available to all Americans for now. The National Telecommunications & Information Administration told B&C that roughly one million coupons have been requested thus far. The coupons will be mailed on February 17 when retailers are expected to begin carrying the converter boxes. You can fill out the form for your coupons on this official site: https://www.dtv2009.gov/ I still don't know if this is right or not... but if you have cable or satellite boxes hooked up to your tv, those will act as the signal converter and you won't need anything. But some cable companies might transmit digital signals only over their cables and that would mean you'd need a cable box for every tv in your house, or buy a digital converter for tvs if they are connected to cable but don't have a cable box. And if you get free channels with an antenna, then you'll need a whole new antenna. I filled out for the free coupons in case I need a converter box for the kids tvs just in case. Free money is free money. *shrug* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gokuDX7 2,871 Report post Posted March 2, 2008 who uses antennas anymore? All hail piggy, king of bacon ^)^ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dubird 6,815 Report post Posted March 2, 2008 My grandpa did. And probally will again for local stations down where he's at when my uncle gets a chance to install it. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ladywriter 7,783 Report post Posted March 3, 2008 people out in the sticks with no cable *gasp they really do exist* poor folks "borrowing" cable ppl who don't care enuff about tv to need 70 channels... oh there's a few Look at the flowers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Myk JL 1,731 Report post Posted March 3, 2008 What a waste of Tax Payer money... Those who fight deplorables should see to it that they themselves do not become deplorables. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ladywriter 7,783 Report post Posted March 3, 2008 meh, I can't really agree with that but hey I'm from NY. Our firefighters EMS DOT police etc really need to be able to communicate with each other freely and without fighting with tv or cell phones or whatever for air space. The disaster down in the city showed us all how badly a system of communication between emergency workers is a total necessity. If a single city has that much of a problem coordinating whats going on in 2 buildings, yeah television can just get bent. Its a govt decision and to the benefit of Joe Poorguy they're dishing out the coupons to make such a big change easier on everybody. It would be irresponsible (and asshole~ish ) if the govt didn't step up and try to help out. On a side note NYS is taking so long to get the new systems up and running that individual counties upstate are doing the shit themselves with plans to link up to the state later on. Ya gotta understand tho that up here we haven't had a "normal" winter in years, our weather is tipping to the frigin extreme; no snow for weeks but the temps are 20 degrees below seasonal average and then when it does snow we get some fucked ass amount like 3 or 4 feet in a day and a half that snow plows cant keep up with. Up here all winter long its one place after another in state of emergency then come spring we fuckin flood. Look at the flowers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Myk JL 1,731 Report post Posted March 3, 2008 Its a govt decision and to the benefit of Joe Poorguy they're dishing out the coupons to make such a big change easier on everybody. It would be irresponsible (and asshole~ish ) if the govt didn't step up and try to help out. The better way would have been to leave taxes low & not have all of these "help" the poor programs. All Government is doing with this is robbing the tax payer. The money isn't coming out of their pockets. It's coming out of everyone else's. Those who fight deplorables should see to it that they themselves do not become deplorables. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
