Apply, Buy, and Try DTV – NTIA’s New Campaign Message

The NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration), which oversees the converter-box coupon program, has begun a new campaign to inform consumers about this switch to digital television.

Apply, Buy, and Try DTV.  With these three simple steps, consumers can apply for dtv coupons, buy a converter box, and try using the set top box with their existing analog television immediately.

Meredith Attwell Baker (head of the NTIA) Tuesday (9/31/08) held a conference call with reporters to kick off the “Apply, Buy, Try” campaign, but placed emphasis on the “Try”

a lot of folks who either: did not know how to set up the boxes; didn’t know they needed to scan, or rescan, for DTV channels; or did not know they might not get a signal because of antenna or station-coverage issues.

Other notable items from the NTIA conference call are

• it might take 2-4 weeks to process the dtv coupon requests
• those who apply are actually buying them rather than letting the coupons expire, as they do within 90 days
• consumers may need hook up and troubleshoot the converter boxes before they work correctly