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• Jan 10, 2008 4:00 pm US/Eastern
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  Digital TV Converter Box Coupon Program

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Digital TV Converter Box Coupon Program

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― As we've been telling you, in a little over a year, all television stations in the U.S. will stop broadcasting in analog and make the switch to digital. For most people, they won't need to do anything to get the signal. But for some, they'll need a converter box. 3 On Your Side's Jim Donovan explains.

If you currently use an antenna to watch TV, and you don't have a digital tuner already in your current set, that converter box will be necessary if you want to see the picture. So the Government is helping to pay for it.

In February 2009, the country is going all digital. If you have cable, satellite or any other pay TV service, you're likely already watching a digital signal. So who will need these converter boxes?

"Most people that are going to need the tuner are people that have radio antennas on their roof or use the rabbit ear antennas on their televisions right now," said Cameron Radford with Best Buy.

So Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program to help defray the cost.

It allows households to receive up to two coupons, each worth $40 that can be applied towards the cost of the boxes, which are expected to run between $50 and $70.

Starting now, you can apply for the two coupons in several ways. Go online to dtv2009.gov, call the program hotline number at 1-888-DTV-2009, or mail or fax an application in.

The coupons are expected to be distributed beginning in February. They can be redeemed at many major retailers such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart. The stores expect to have the converter boxes in stock sometime in February or March. Also, you'll still need to use the rabbit ears with the converter boxes.


Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program

To request coupons:
www.dtv2009.gov

or by phone
1-888-DTV-2009
1-888-388-2009

or by mail
PO BOX 2000
Portland, OR 97208-2000

By Fax:
1-877-DTV-4ME2
1-877-388-4632

Other Resources:
www.ntia.doc.gov
www.dtvanswers.com

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)