Did you apply for your TV converter box coupons yet?

by Evan Blass, posted Jan 1st 2008 at 12:19PM

If you're anything like us, your only New Year's resolution for this particular ride around the sun is to sign up for a converter box coupon in preparation for the 2009 digital TV transition -- even if, also like us, your only remaining analog set is gathering dust next to your laserdisc player in the basement. Still, a bargain is a bargain, so $40 off a product or products that we don't really need was more than enough motivation to race over to the official sign-up page only minutes after it went live. You, of course, still have a good 13 months to pick up one of these digital-to-analog converters from LG or friends, but since you're probably not in very good shape to do much else today, why not make the most of your incapacitation and hit the Read link to fill out your application.

[Thanks for the reminder, Travis C.]

Filed under: Regulatory, Set-top boxes, OTA

Tags: converter box coupons, digital tv transition, digital-to-analog converter box, Digital-to-analogConverterBox, DigitalTvTransition, fcc

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

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Divinehawk @ Jan 1st 2008 12:30PM

We're sorry for the inconvenience. An unexpected error has occurred and been logged.

You will be redirected to the home page in 3 seconds.

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north @ Jan 1st 2008 12:45PM

You will be directed to a new tv in 2 seconds.

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Divinehawk @ Jan 1st 2008 2:19PM

Looks like it's fixed.

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john @ Jan 1st 2008 12:49PM

website does not work

Highly Ranked

north @ Jan 1st 2008 12:55PM

Using firefox3 beta 2 and it works for me.

Highly Ranked

Sam Hall @ Jan 1st 2008 2:55PM

These coupons expire 90 days after they are issued. I think I'll wait until there's a decent supply and choice of receivers/converters available.

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Miggity @ Jan 1st 2008 4:37PM

Dude I am sorry that is just irresponsible and a waste. It is already bad enough that the government is pissing away millions of tax dollars on these coupons to give boxes away to people who are too poor/ignorant/lazy to upgrade on their own. I will take pride in myself and the fact that I don't NEED one of these. If a bunch of schmucks sign up and get these boxes when they dont need it then I guarantee, (mark these words), the government will just throw more of my tax money at it so the people who really are too poor or ignorant of the situation can get boxes in 2009 when they realize, "Why my t.v. done not work no more?!"

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TwinkleToez @ Jan 29th 2008 5:38PM

Miggity, you are a pompus assh@*!.
Just because you can run out and buy a new TV, certainly doesnt mean that someone that doesnt is poor or ignorant. I'm betting that you still live at home or your mooching off someone. I can't stand closed minded freaks like you. I feel sorry for you.

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Mike @ Feb 8th 2008 5:26PM

Pissing away millions on people too ignorant/poor/lazy to afford the transition? you, sir, are the lowest form of loser. Tell me, what's it really like to be an ignorant, self-centered ass and conceited, for some unfathomable reason, simultaneously?

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tedb @ Feb 18th 2008 8:04PM

You know Mr. "Govt. is throwing away my tax dollars on these coupons". since I just bought my TV 2 months ago and since I am far from ignorant I am more than happy that the govt. is providing a converter so that my 2 month old TV doesn't cease to work 1 year from the date of purchase. Better that than giving food stamps to Felons (illegal immigrants) or paying 60K a year of my tax dollars to house 3 time losers for life in federal pens. How about the waste in paying every "1 term in the politician 60+K a year retirement for life while my family struggles to make ends meet on 1/2 that after I've spent 20 years paying taxes. I bet ya all the aforementioned crooks are eating better than my family and doing it on both yours and my taxes so I'll take a break anytime I can get it!

Highest Ranked

T-bone @ Jan 1st 2008 5:34PM

Dude, I have an HDTV with a built in tuner, but what about the 2 other CRT TV's in my house? Just because I don't have cable means that I must buy a new TV? I don't think so. The government is mandating this change (not anyone else) to make money by selling off the unused spectrum.

I don't pay for TV and haven't in the past 8 years. Why should I have to pay for cable or upgrade my TV because the government wants to make a change? I'll take my coupons, thank you very much.

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Timerider @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:38PM

Yeah. The government is the one whose getting rid of analog signals in the first place.

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Eric M @ Jan 1st 2008 9:57PM

I have cable Tv... but might as well since it's free.

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GhostDoggy @ Jan 2nd 2008 5:32AM

Food (includes air), shelter, and clothing are the three basic necessities of man to survive. Everything else is a luxury, and this usually becomes convoluted into some sort of maligned welfare program.

If I can afford to read this post then I can afford to not require this welfare program to exist. Television is a luxury. Stop smoking, drinking, and baby-making in order to afford your other DESIRES.

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Ken @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:02PM

1337 - LOL :-)

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bitguru @ Jan 2nd 2008 4:41PM

Don't the coupons have to be redeemed within three months? If so it might make sense to wait a while (until more models of boxes are available) before requesting one.

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cajarvis @ Jan 3rd 2008 11:14AM

FYI-there are only 2 million coupons available. At 2 per household they are going quick so it may not work to wait until later in the year.

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Scott @ Jan 4th 2008 4:47PM

I was wondering how this would work. My mom still gets cable tv without a cable box. Without going into details, she wont get a box from them, would she be able to get the new signal to her analog tv without the need of a converter box. And more importantly, since she's getting a cable signal without a box, will the converter even work? Thanks all.

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c t @ Jan 13th 2008 12:01PM

i just talked to my cable company (mediacom) and was told that unless I subscribe to digital cable (and thus already have a converter box) i will not be able to receive the signal. I must either purchase my own converter box or upgrade my tv's to digital and pay a monthly fee for THEIR digital box.

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Shadow @ Jan 17th 2008 5:29PM

Oh joy...a NEW way for the government to make us rush out like it was a department sale!

At least it opens up a ton of space so we can get better cellphone coverage and stuff.

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oregonn8v @ Feb 1st 2008 4:13PM

I find it very offensive that there are individuals who deride those of us who have chosen not to go out any buy HD TV's as being poor, lazy or ignorant. My wife and I made a conscious decision 10 years ago that spending money on cable/dish was a waste of our money and time. We have three children under the age of ten who do not need to sit in front of a boob-tube for entertainment nor do I need to spend $50 - $100 or more each month to get 200 channels or garbage.

Sure there are channels I wish I had (Discovery, History, TLC, etc.) but they are not worth $25 each and the remainder of it is garbage (i.e. Fox News).

We do just fine with "rabbit-ears" on our TV's and now I am being forced into a new technology that I have no need for.

I am hardly ignorant. My college degree in Communications and my position as a Technology Services Director both speak to my level of education and my awareness of what is out there and what is coming in the area of technology.

Nor am I poor. I earn enough money to pay our home mortgage, property taxes, home/auto/life insurance, invest for my retirement, feed and clothe my family of five, and send all three of my children to private school. In addition we take large family vacations to other countries nearly every year. I guess my priorities are just different from mental midgets like Miggity and GhostDoggy. It is about time the Federal Government wakes up and realizes that if they are mandating me to do something then they have an obligation to the citizens of this country to make it accessible to all.

I understand the reasoning behind pushing this technology forward but I do not feel that it needs to be a priority of our nation with all the other issues we are facing today.

Anyway...my two cents and I will be requestion my coupon. Thanks.

Highly Ranked

saly74 @ Feb 18th 2008 3:03AM

Finally!!! An educated answer. My college degrees and I will be applying for the coupon as well. Thank you oregonn8v for your well written response.

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coweatchicken @ Mar 31st 2008 3:28AM

Funny how you people get so bent out of shape over simple generalization. If you're so educated, they must have not taught you how to make educated guesses. I'm guessing that Miggity was referring to the people who really don't need this. You know the type. The ones on welfare living off the tit of the public tax dollar. Why do they get to sit on their asses and watch TV when they should be out earning an honest dollar? If he was talking about people who've put themselves through school and have jobs, then he's an idiot, but with the kind of reasoning he was using, I feel confident that he is not.
Getting your panties in a wad because you think generalizations about certain types of people include you when it's obvious you are educated and working and not living off the tit of the public tax dollar makes you look very uneducated and incredibly foolish.
I'd also like to know why you're buying brand new TV's when you say things like "my family struggles to make ends meet on 1/2 that after I've spent 20 years paying taxes. I bet ya all the aforementioned crooks are eating better than my family and doing it on both yours and my taxes so I'll take a break anytime I can get it!" I believe you've got some incredibly fucked up priorities and your kids need role models. I'm sorry, but you cannot have your cake and eat it, too if you've got to use words like "struggling" to indicate your financial status.

I will not be getting a voucher because I think it's ridiculous. We're in a war, we're going into an economic crises, and people are bitching at each other about getting free boxes so they can sit in front of a TV and and ignore the world.
I'm telling you, people. This is only the beginning of what will become some sort of massive Big Brother movement. First it's our cable, then it's little boxes that "enhance" our life and keep us "safe" according to the Patriot Act that no one ever voted on.

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