DTV Coupon Program: Details on How to Apply
Important: Consumers have from January 1, 2008 until July 31, 2009 to apply for the coupon’s or until supplies last. At this time, there are no plans by Congress to extend this date.
Converter Coupon Program Details and How to Sign Up
The coupon program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.
To Apply for a Coupon:
Apply Online: Government’s DTV Coupon Applications Page. The whole process takes less than 2 minutes.
Apply by Mail: Mail a coupon application to: PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000.
To Fax a Coupon: The Fax number for sending a coupon application to the Government is 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)
Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English/TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish/TTY). TTY Service is available from 9 AM – 9 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday.
Where is My Converter Coupon?
To check your application or coupon status, go to Page No Longer Available. Be sure to have your reference or coupon number to check your status.
A History of the TV Converter Box Coupon Program
In 1996, after years of studies by government/television industry committees, U.S. Congress deemed Digital Television as an acceptable upgrade to the 50-year-old analog television broadcasting technology.
At that time, Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel (for digital broadcasting) to each broadcast TV station which would allow for broadcasting in both analog and digital channels simultaneously.
In 1997, the U.S. government mandated that all public TV stations were to begin broadcasting digital signals by May 1st, 2003, giving stations almost 6 years to comply. More than half of the country’s 357 public TV stations missed the deadline.
It wasn’t until The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Approved by Congress and President Bush), that a final date of February 17, 2009, was set for all TV broadcasters nationwide to make a complete transition to digital television and switch off their analog broadcasts.
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 allocated $1.5 billion to the TV Converter Box Coupon Program as a subsidy to consumers to help purchase up to two DTV converter boxes. The converter box would allow most existing analog television sets to continue to receive broadcast TV signals after the transition occured on February 17th, 2009.
Additional contingency’s for allocation of funds to the coupon program were included if the original funds were exhausted.
Expired Coupon?
Congress has passed legislation allowing you to reapply before the coupon program shut off date: Click here for details
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How to request a DTV Coupon?
