Another half-million coupons for digital converter boxes expired last week, bringing the number of unused government-issued discounts to 4,674,956. That’s about $374 million worth of digital converter boxes.
I’ve been over this many times, but for those just tuning in, these coupons, worth $40 each, help consumers pay for the transition to digital TV.
On February 17, 2009, the major TV networks will stop broadcasting in analog in favor of digital (at that point, older, analog TVs won’t work, unless you have a paid TV service or a digital converter box). The reason goes something like this: Analog broadcasts take up a lot of space on the airwaves so the government is forcing a move to the more efficient digital technology. Older analog signals will be used for emergency communication or were auctioned off for $19.6 billion last spring.
The coupons are for digital converter boxes, which magically start around $40. Consumers can go to dtv2009.gov to apply for up to 2 coupons per household. They expire 90 days after they are mailed. I first offered an update on expired coupons last week. But many readers have one nagging question. The answer: If you lose the coupon or let it expire, you CAN NOT apply for another one.
But there is one other option, says Todd Sedmak, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s TV converter box program.
“We suggest people ask a friend or family member who isn’t using theirs, which would be fine with us,” Sedmak said.
While there is talk every week about changing the expiration date of the coupons, nothing has been done yet.
“The information is clear when it’s sent to people that it expires after 90 days. That’s how Congress designed it,” Sedmak said. “When the coupon expires, those funds remain in our account so the next person in line has access to those funds. You wouldn’t want coupons sitting out on shelves or in people’s drawers and not be used.”
The government doesn’t track why people let coupons expire. But he offered a number of theories: they opted for cable service (which takes care of the digital transition), they bought a digital TV, or they ordered two coupons and only needed one.
For those who haven’t ordered their coupon yet, there is still time — and money! Approximately, $1.5 billion raised from last spring’s auction is funding the coupon program. That allows up to 33.5 million coupons to be issued. So far, 6.6 million have been used, while 4.7 million have expired. That redemption rate is around 48 percent, Sedmak said.
Close to home: “Los Angeles remains the number one (in coupon requests) with more than 1 million requested and 300,000 redeemed,” Sedmak added. “You’ve got a lot of issues there coming together — high minority population, low income and seniors. Those are the three top target audiences.”
Related posts:
- Tax discount on digital TV converters bought with coupons
- 23 reviews of digital converter boxes
- Find a store that sells digital converter boxes
- Which (nearly) free digital TV converter box should I buy? (CNet)
- Who Acts as Tech Support for the DTV Transition? (PC Magazine)
- List of DTV converters eligible for the coupon afterdawn.com)
- Help parents survive the digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
- Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
Tamara 'the Gadgetress' Chuang
Here's a list of TV/mobile companies helping consumers one tweet at a time. 
I HAVE A DTV2009 CARD COUPON THAT EXPIRED
7/25 I COULD SURE USE [1] EXTRA IF SOMEONE
HAS A EXTRA ONE THANKS - ED - CAN BE CONTACTED
BY MY E MAIL FOR MAILING ADDRESS
Hi our coupons expired before we found out what they were —if anyone has one to spare –we would sure appreciate it
I too need a DTV coupon. I ordered, and it did not show. I am declined a coupon now as it shows I should have already received one. Unable to apply again, I am seeking any coupon card(s) you might be able to offer me. Thank you. Jean
I suggest you buy the converter on ebay.com. It is much cheaper than at a store and you don’t even need a coupon. Many people bought it and found out they don’t need it. They turn around and sell it back on Ebay. I bought one last week for only $5 plus shipping and handling of $11. My sister bought another for only $15. We don’t even need a coupon. The same model is selling at the store ranging from $68 to $87. With the coupon of $40, you still have to pay at a higher price at a store than buying it on Ebay.
Hi, I lost my coupons with my bag theft and now I cant apply for the new. If anyone has one to spare, I would appreciate it a lot.
Thanks
Why in the h— would there BE ANYexperation date on the coupons. If your going to put one on, why not Jan 17th???? I left mine in the envelope untill today and it was expired, f—— brilliant idea, was it created by some major politicians kid fresh out of college!!
I am in Texas and everytime I went in the stores …they were always out of the converters. So after countless efforts my coupon expired. Now I see I could have ordered one online but at the time I had no access to a computer. Wal-mart said they got a memo to accept expired cards but played dumb when I went back in to claim this. Now they are in the stores every where.
My coupons expired in October. I need replacements (2 please). Please let me
know if you want the expired coupons returned to you.
Thank you.
My address:
Sharon L. Fisher
615 Katherine Street
Lockport, IL 60441
I got my coupons early thinking that was a good thing to do…wrong.
They arrived I opened envelope to verify but just left them in there and when I went to go to the store to get the boxes, they were expired. I didn’t even know they had an expiration date. What a foolish and wasteful thing to do. I have tried on line to get new ones and offered to send these expired ones back to no avail. I need two and am getting very nervous as it gets closer. How much better, if money is a problem, to notify all vendors to accept the expired cards. Somebody has to do something…. Maybe we should remember this at the next election, we CAN do something about that! I’m tired ot all this money wasted. I cannot purchase these boxes and do not want to lose my TVs.
As a postscript - if no replacement of cards is to be had, please read the above. HOW EXPENSIVE CAN IT BE TO NOTIFY ALL THOSE VENDORS TO ACCEPT THE EXPIRED CARDS? No cost for cards, just notification to those vendors. For heavens sake do it posthaste.
I applied two coupons, but I never received a coupon in the mail. Sounds like mail man deliver to wrong address.