TV transition

Yahoo! News reported Millions of $40 government coupons become available Tuesday to help low-tech television owners buy special converter boxes for older TVs that might not work after the switch to digital broadcasting. Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, anyone who does not own a digital set and still gets their programming via over-the-air antennas will no longer receive a picture. That's the day the television industry completes its transition from old-style analog broadcasting to digital.

The converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be available at most major electronics retail stores.

I wonder how much they would have cost if the government was not paying $40 each.

Starting Tuesday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the purchase of the boxes.... To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at https://www.dtv2009.gov/starting Tuesday. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).

There are only 33.5 million coupons available. The coupons will expire 90 days after they are issued - and converter boxes are not expected to be available until sometime in February of this year.

Hat tip to Gaius