Dave's Download

Feds Out of Money for Digital TV Coupons

By David LaGesse

Posted: January 6, 2009

The government said new applicants for financial help with buying converter boxes will have to go onto a waiting list. More than 24 million households have requested more than 46 million coupons and more than 18 million coupons have been redeemed.

New applicants will have to depend on the pain of others, whose coupons expire after 90 days. That will free some of the $1.34 billion the government set aside for the program. Expired coupons is an unpleasant surprise awaiting millions who have requested but not cashed theirs.

Nearly 2 million households that rely on broadcast TV haven't even requested financial help. And about half of the coupons requested haven't been used, more reason to anticipate a meltdown when TVs go blank next month.

Tax Dollars of Not It's Still Ridiculous

Hmmmm, well, considering the headlines this morning are discussing a $1.2 trillion budget deficit, I think $19 billion is better spent elsewhere. Seriously? $5 a month is $60. Give up one monthly trip to McDonald's or one pack of cigarettes or one six-pack of beer for crying out loud. No one sent coupons out for VHS players when Betamax tanked or for Blue-Ray players now that it has won that war. I'm usually pretty liberal on social issues, but handing out coupons due to upgraded technology for something as non-essential as TV is ridiculous.

JustAnnie of TX @ Jan 07, 2009 11:16:42 AM

it wasnt tax dollars

the goverment sold those air waves to verizon and other companys as far as im concerend these boxes should have been mailed to every house in america the auctions made 19 billion and the only put aside 1.3 billion

zen of PA @ Jan 06, 2009 17:09:56 PM

TV is Not a Right

There should not have been any tax dollars spent on coupons. TV is not essential to life and I should not have to pay for someone else's entertainment.

Technology is continually advancing. That is just the way it is. Betamax, VHS, vinyl albums, 8-track tapes, keypunch cards, dial-up internet service - all gone or mostly gone. With downloadable music and movies on the rise, CDs & DVDs will probably be next. People should get over it already and quit whining. We have known this was coming for months. If you can't save $60 for a converter box over the course of a year, you have much bigger problems than not having television.

JustAnnie of TX @ Jan 06, 2009 12:29:57 PM

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