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Are the
Federal digital TV conversion subsidy coupons for real or just another urban
myth? Midnight February 17, 2009. Suddenly, television stations across America
go dark on your TV. Like 1960s sci-fi movies, but this is for real as all
broadcasters swich from analog to 100% digital. The promise is sharper, crisper
images, more programming options and more needed bandwidth for emergency
responders. Good stuff, but how will it affect you and why should you care
months in advance?
The
Government TV Converter Box Program created by Congress is a mess. I looked
into it for my regular column at DemystifyingDigital.com. Here's how it goes:
For households who wish to continue using analog TV sets (non digital, non HDTV
that only receive today's off-air signal) after Feb 17, 2009 the government
offers two $40-dollar coupons per household, on request. They can be used to
purchase low-end converter boxes or digital TV adapters. The coupons, according
to what I have read about digital conversion, are only good at certain stores.
A number
of retailers don't really want to participate. Finding conversion boxes that
qualify may be problematic. The government TV Converter Web site has a page
called "Find a Retailer" but the page says "check back
later." Word around the Web is Best Buy, Circuit City and Sears don't want
to stock the products or process the refunds, or train their employees. Common
sense told me, "Wait till closer to the deadline."
Actually,
I could opt to opt out and forget about coupons and converters since I
subscribe to digital TV service. Cable, satellite or dish service customers
won't be affected by the death of analog. But I have at least one set,
sometimes that receives off air. My local channels aren't available from my
dish provider (an ugly story involving DirecTV at odds with local stations, but
that's another column). My choices are:
1. Keep my analog antenna and buy a
conversion box or two, with or without coupons.
2. Use a cable or dish provider that offers
locals.
3. Buy a new TV or two with digital tuner
incorporated.
When I
bought my HDTV a few months ago, doing my initial homewprk brought to light the
following:
* Many digital TVs sold today do not
actually have a digital tuner (also known as ATSC tuner)
* You have to ask a lot of questions when
you look at HDTVs and HD -ready TVs. (remember when "cable-ready"
also meant anything and everything?
* Terminology varies widely - Integrated HD
or HD built in - or no converter required pretty much means the set has a
digital tuner onboard. These will all work after the analog to digital switch
in 2009, HD-ready will proably not work.
Personally,
I decided my best bet is to go all digital with my home TVs. I'll replace the
analog set in the bedroom - it's getting a little sickly anyway. The government
program is frought with rules and wherefores and is buggy as heck right now.
The converters will likely cost between $45 and $70, so I'd have to shell out a
few bucks even with the government subsidy.
And the
biggest problem is two-fold. 1) Coupons expire 90 days after a "government
contractor" puts them in the mail to my address and 2) the program is
going to run out of money.
Coupons
are short-lived. Boxes aren't available. Hoop-jmping will be involved. I think
I'll pass and hope, of the 15 million households still using analog antennas,
folks who really need the coupons will be able to get them.
For a bit
more info,