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The TV Converter Box Coupon Program

The Digital to Analog Converter Box Coupon Program has been launched by
the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Between Jan. 1, 2008 and July 31, 2009, all households in America will be eligible to request up to two (2) coupons valued at $40 each to use toward the purchase of up to two (2) digital to analog converters.

The Coupon Program will accept coupon requests from
January 1, 2008 until July 31, 2009.

Latest information from the NTIA:

*Recent coupon program update:

The Senate has postponed the Digital Transition date from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009.

Mobile Assistance Centers Tour Schedule. The Coupon Program's Mobile Assistance Centers began their tour in May. Over the next month, these traveling vans are visiting more than 20 markets across the country with staff to help consumers apply for coupons and to demonstrate how to hook-up converter boxes. View the tour schedule. *Dates, times and locations subject to change.

Applications for Replacement Coupons. The Coupon Program is now accepting applications from consumers whose coupons expired without being redeemed. The Coupon Program limits each U.S. household to a total of two redeemed coupons. Therefore, if you have redeemed one coupon toward the purchase of a TV converter box and the other has expired, you may request and be approved for one replacement coupon; if you have redeemed two coupons you will not be approved for additional coupons. Replacement coupons will only be issued to eligible households upon request.

Coupon Waiting List and Distribution. The Coupon Program has completed processing approved coupon applications that were placed on a waiting list beginning in January 2009. Consumers who had been notified they were approved for coupons but placed on a waiting list due to a lack of program funds will be issued coupons. See chart below.

Consumers who apply for a coupon and are approved after the waiting list is eliminated will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. If the Program experiences high demand, it may be necessary for NTIA to once again place applicants on a waiting list. Should this happen NTIA may distribute coupons to over-the-air only households first to ensure as many U.S. households as possible have at least one working television after their local TV stations complete the transition to digital by June 12, 2009.

Requested Coupons Mailed via First-Class Mail. The TV Converter Box Coupon Program is mailing coupons via first-class mail. Consumers will receive coupons more quickly.

Application Deadline. Consumers should act now to prepare for the end of analog broadcasts in their local viewing area. The Program will accept coupon applications until July 31, 2009, if funds are available to fill those requests.

On October 20, 2008, residents of licensed nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, assisted living facilities and households that use a post office box for mail delivery became eligible to request coupons from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.

Coupons are free, but supply is limited. Coupons will be mailed to you by the Federal Government.

With your coupon(s) you will also receive:

Instructions for using a coupon

List of coupon eligible certified TV converter boxes

List of retailers where you can use the coupon to buy a certified TV converter box

Frequently asked questions about using the coupon
Coupons expire after 90 days so review your information packet as soon as you receive it.

Coupon Distribution:

TV Converter Box Coupons are plastic cards that look like gift cards. They will be:

mailed to households with approved applications, starting in late February.
sent based on the date of application, in the order in which the applications were received.
mailed on a staggered basis – not all at once.
delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.

Coupons cannot be printed or downloaded from the Program Website and are not available to pick up at retail locations.

Remember to call ahead to confirm availability of coupon-eligible converter boxes at the store on the day you plan to shop.

Coupons are being sent on a staggered basis – not all at once. Because of the high demand for coupons at the beginning of the program, it may take some time for you to receive your coupon. The table below shows the scheduled mail date based on the date your request was received and processed:

Your Application Approval Date	Target Mail Date
May 2 - 8, 2009	5/11/2009
May 9 - 15, 2009	5/18/2009
May 16 - 22, 2009	5/25/2009
May 23 - 29, 2009	6/1/2009
May 30 - June 5, 2009	6/8/2009

There are four ways to apply for the coupons:

Apply online: Click here to apply for your $40 Coupon

Mail a downloaded coupon application to:
PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000

Fax a downloaded coupon application to 1-877-388-4632

Click here to download your $40 Coupon Application

By phone: call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline
1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), TTY 1-877-530-2634

The only information the government requires to send
the coupons is: name, household address and number of coupons needed (maximum of 2).

The coupons will be mailed to the eligible households and will expire 90 days after they are issued.

You can now check the status of your coupon application.

Nursing homes residents and P.O. Box households are now eligible to receive converter box coupons but you need to apply with a special application.

Nursing homes residents and P.O. Box households use this application

The coupons cannot be combined to purchase a single converter box, and they be cannot be used toward the purchase of other products.

Only a converter with basic features will be eligible for the coupons

. If you choose a converter box with extra features such as Digital Video Recorder (DVR) or DVD Recorder you cannot use the coupon.

You cannot use a coupon for a converter box you have already purchased.

Coupons must be presented and redeemed at the time the converter box is purchased. You can ask participating retailers which of their converters can be purchased with a government coupon or check the link below.

Coupons will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis to all U.S. households until $890 million designated for the program as been expended. After that, an additional $450 million will be made available to households that receive only over-the-air-TV.

Converter box retailers and coupon-eligible converter boxes

Please check this website often for updated information.

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