The DTV Converter Box Coupon Program and Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About It

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 Application Page - The whole process takes less than 2 minutes.

Apply By Phone: Call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).

Apply by Mail: Mail a coupon application to: PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Download a Printable Coupon Application here from the Government’s DTV Coupon Website.

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 https://www.dtv2009.gov/CheckStatus.aspx.  Be sure to have your reference or coupon number to check your status.  As of 10/19/2008, the following information was provided from the NTIA Government website for expected Mail Date’s for Converter Box Coupon’s.

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
June 7 - 13, 2008 7/4/2008
June 14 - 20, 2008 7/11/2008
June 21 - 27, 2008 7/18/2008
June 28 - July 4, 2008 7/25/2008
July 5 - 11, 2008 8/1/2008
July 12 - 18, 2008 8/8/2008
July 19 - 25, 2008 8/15/2008
July 26 - August 1, 2008 8/22/2008
August 2 - 8, 2008 8/29/2008
August 9 - 15, 2008 9/5/2008
August 16 - 22, 2008 9/12/2008
August 23 - 29, 2008 9/19/2008
August 30 - September 5, 2008 9/19/2008
September 6 - 12, 2008 9/26/2008
September 13 - 19, 2008 10/3/2008
September 20 - 26, 2008 10/10/2008
September 27 - October 3, 2008 10/17/2008
October 4 - 10, 2008 10/24/2008
October 11 - 17, 2008 10/31/2008
October 18 - 24, 2008 11/7/2008
October 25 - 31, 2008 11/14/2008
November 1 - 7, 2008 11/21/2008
November 8 - 14, 2008 11/28/2008
November 15 - 21, 2008 12/5/2008
November 22 - 28, 2008 12/12/2008
November 29 - December 5, 2008 12/19/2008
December 6 - 12, 2008 12/26/2008



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. (Source: Current.org).

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.





Related Posts and Reader Questions

  • How long do I have to wait for my converter box coupon and where can I check status of it?
  • What is the TV Converter Box Coupon Program and how do I a get coupon?
  • Breaking News: DTV Coupon Program Out of Funds
  • DTV Coupon Program Extended to 7/31/09
  • Converter Box Coupon Update: Relief for Expired Coupons?
  • Can I sign up for the digital converter coupon program for my second home?
  • Comments

    22 Responses to “The DTV Converter Box Coupon Program and Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About It”

    1. PC Miller on May 18th, 2008 3:35 pm

      Our TV is 13 years old and I looked at the list for our zenith tv which does not match the number on the list (zenith DTT900/DF2000 will the converter box still work on it???

    2. Eugene E. Beaudry on May 24th, 2008 6:43 am

      I have tried and tried and tried to get the coupons on line and can see the code at the bottom of the page to put it in. So I tried to contact them and it requries the same in put of a code at the bottom so you can send an email. But none of this shows up at all. Why is it that the Goverment of the United States of American….Makes it so difficult to get these coupons? Just like every other Goverment progam, they need to get it together!

      (Edited By Admin)

    3. admin on May 24th, 2008 12:08 pm

      PC Miller, thanks for visiting!

      I’ve emailed you the answer to your question, let me know if you have any other questions.

      Jay

    4. admin on May 24th, 2008 12:10 pm

      Eugene, thanks for your opinion and visiting!

      I’ve emailed you a direct link to the government coupon site along with a little info.

      Let me know if you have any other questions,

      Jay

    5. DTV Help and Infromation Network | TVConversionhelp.com on August 18th, 2008 6:49 pm

      [...] Click here to learn more about the U.S. government coupon program. [...]

    6. If I have more than one tv, do I have to have a box for every tv or does my cable box take care of all tv’s? | TVConversionhelp.com on October 6th, 2008 11:42 am

      [...] you have not done so already, you can order a total of (2) $40 converter box coupons from the government to help with purchasing a digital [...]

    7. Consumers React To Forced Digital TV Conversion | TVConversionhelp.com on October 7th, 2008 2:45 pm

      [...] the government has been so very kind in offering the nation a $40 coupon for these boxes. However, these coupons are only good for 90 days from when they are mailed out to [...]

    8. Sue on October 17th, 2008 6:57 am

      My daughter is currently in prison. She was told that she needs to get one of the boxes for her TV to work. Do I get the coupon in my name or hers in order to purchase this for her. I will be the purchasing but will be having it shipped to her. Thanks for your help.

      Sue

    9. New York broadcasters 2 minute DTV shut-off | TVConversionhelp.com on October 21st, 2008 10:05 pm

      [...] Information about $40 DTV Coupons [...]

    10. Cable Companies are Accused of Deceptive Business Practices | TVConversionhelp.com on November 3rd, 2008 10:02 am

      [...] afford a cable television subscription. If they do not choose to buy these boxes now with the government coupons currently available, it could cost them a lot more in the future to watch television. Current [...]

    11. Less than 100 days left until DTV Day | TVConversionhelp.com on November 11th, 2008 8:36 pm

      [...] you waiting to fill out the application for the $40 dtv converter box coupon? The government has scheduled the last day to apply for the coupon on March 31st, [...]

    12. All Converter Boxes Are Not Created Equal | TVConversionhelp.com on November 25th, 2008 8:53 am

      [...] everyone has seen the annoying commercials on TV about the importance of applying to the government coupon program and buying a new converter box for the digital transition, but the whole process can be rather [...]

    13. Dolores Peffley on November 26th, 2008 10:44 am

      I received my coupons for converter boxes for two old/portable TVS. This month my local station has provided two test sessions and the converter boxes (because of the inadequacy of the TVs and their antennae) are not helpful. I am unwilling to spend the amount to have an outside antenna installed for such old TV equip. Because I got my coupons early and had to spend them by 7/31 the store (Radio Shack) will not allow me to return them even though one hasn’t even been opened. Advice?

    14. Don M Markel on December 9th, 2008 9:39 pm

      I did not realize the converter box coupons had an expiration date on them until today when I opened the letter containing the two coupons and see where they expired 12/01/2008. Can I still use these anywhere or can I exchange them for ones that are not expired.

      Thank You,
      Don

    15. valeria malveaux on December 10th, 2008 2:25 pm

      My cards expired and how can i get new ones to get the boxes?

    16. YOLANDA TOWNSEND on December 17th, 2008 9:33 pm

      I do really agree with disable granny about the buget cutting out the rental rebate this year leaving it hard for the low income family to barely beable to afford food to put on the table.So pleas make easier to use the coupons and make the store more staked with the converter boxes.But dont get me wrong i do appreciate the help in full so thANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

    17. DTV Guide for Procrastinators | TVConversionhelp.com on January 4th, 2009 8:19 pm

      [...] in the form of $40 TV Converter Box Coupons to help with purchasing up to two converter boxes. Visit here for info on how to apply for DTV Coupons.  For a list of retailers approved to accept DTV Coupons with purchase of a converter box, visit [...]

    18. Erin on January 9th, 2009 1:20 pm

      What the heck, this is ridiculas! We ordered our coupons back in June ‘08 and NEVER received them. I have emailed about this once a week since AUGUST and no one can even have enough respect to reply to me. So I had my husband apply for some and it said our household was already approved for 2 coupons. Well I understand that but we never recieved them! I don’t know what else to do. We live out in the country where there is not even cable lines ran to subscribe to cable if it came down to it. Satelite is our only option besides buying them straight out and we can’t afford it on a 1 paycheck for a family of 5 in Ch 13 bankruptcy. Please, if anyone has any suggestions I would very much appreciate hearing them. Here we are 5 weeks away from the switch and we will have nothing even though we followed the directions and ordered coupons early to ensure we would have some.
      Very dissapointed in the govt once again :(

    19. alice on February 4th, 2009 10:46 pm

      I PUT IN FOR THE COUPONS AS FAR AS EARLY NOVEMBER AND I GOT A REPLY THAT. THEY WERE SENT OUT THE LAST OF NOVEMBER. i HAVENT RECEIVED ANY COUPONS AS OF NOW IS FEBUARY5,2009. AN I ALSO TRIED REAPPLY AND WAS TOLD I WAS NOT APPROVE TO GET ANY. SO PLEASE TELL ME WHAT CAN I DO NOW. bECAUSE YOU TRY TO GET OR BUY THE BOX. THE QUESTION THEY ALWAYS ASK WHERE YOUR COUPONS? i AM VERY DISSAPPOINTED THAT I CANT GET ANY ANSWER ON TRYING TO OBTAIN THESE COUPONS TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR ME.

    20. DTV Coupon Program Extended to 7/31/09 | TVConversionhelp.com on March 24th, 2009 2:17 pm

      [...] in case anyone has not applied for a DTV Coupon yet, the Government TV Converter Box Coupon Program has been extended to July 31st, 2009 to help [...]

    21. Who can request a DTV Converter Box Coupon? | TVConversionhelp.com on May 8th, 2009 9:45 am

      [...] To Apply to the Coupon Program, visit: How to Apply Online, By Phone, or By Mail [...]

    22. Digital Transition: What's it costing you? | TVConversionhelp.com on June 1st, 2009 11:21 pm

      [...] dark”.  To prepare, you will need to purchase a converter box (Don’t forget to apply for a coupon), buy a TV with a digital tuner, or subscribe to cable or satellite TV service.   What are you [...]

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