With the switch to all-digital television exactly a year away, vouchers to defray the cost of converter boxes necessary to keep older sets working will begin hitting the mail this week - and officials are urging people to request them early, as they are going fast.
The federal government is offering each family up to two $40 vouchers to purchase the boxes, which will translate digital broadcast signals so they can be viewed on analog TVs.
But the number of requests for the vouchers has been higher than predicted, raising concerns that the $1.5 billion set aside by the government might not be enough to meet consumer demand.
"There is not an unlimited supply of [vouchers] out there," said Shermaze Ingram, a spokeswoman for the National Association of Broadcasters. "If you really think you need one, go ahead and get one. The last thing people want to do is try to get the coupon in late February next year."
Ingram emphasized that owners of TVs connected to cable, satellite or fiber-optic services do not need converters for those televisions, as their providers will continue transmitting analog signals.
The nearly 21 million households that depend completely on over-the-air broadcasts, however, will need to take some action before Feb. 17, 2009, when most TV stations will cease to broadcast analog signals.
Purchasing a digital television - HD or standard definition - will solve the problem. So, too, will switching to cable or satellite service. But the least expensive option is using the government-subsidized vouchers to purchase a converter box.
People can apply for the vouchers by mail, fax, online or through a telephone help line set up by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The deadline for filing an application is March 31, 2009, and the agency will begin mailing the coupons to applicants this week. The vouchers are valid for 90 days. Since NTIA began allowing people to apply for the vouchers at the beginning of the year, they've received nearly 5 million requests.
During a congressional hearing on the preparations for the digital transition on Wednesday, NTIA officials said the initial demand was higher than expected. They also received a large number of calls from Spanish-speakers, prompting the agency to hire more translators.
In his testimony at the hearing, David K. Rehr, the president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, said he fears that the government could run out of vouchers.
