If you have an old television with an analog tuner, the ship has sailed on getting a discounted converter box for over-the-air programming.
The Denver Post reports that all government-issued coupons, which provided a $40 discount on converter boxes, have expired. The last batch of 200,000, which mailed out in mid-August, have passed their 90-day shelf life. Americans claimed just over half of the 64.1 million coupons that were issued, and extra money from unclaimed coupons -- totaling $500 million by a rough estimate -- will likely go back into a general fund.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration Administrator Lawrence Stricklin called the program "a tremendous success." He said millions of Americans were prepared on how to make the DTV transition. The highest redemption rate was in Iowa, where 64 percent of those who requested a coupon claimed them. Hawaii was the least motivated, with just 40 percent of coupons claimed.
The DTV transition, which mandated that all over-the-air broadcasts switch from analog signal to a digital one, hit a few bumps along the road. When it became clear that not everyone was prepared for the switch in February, Congress debated for some time before finally extending the deadline until June. There were concerns that the industry would run out of converter boxes, but actually it was the coupon supply that ran dry, causing the government to release extra funding for more coupons in May. After the switch, some stations struggled on the new broadcast band.
You can still get a DTV converter box now, but they may be hard to find. The Denver Post reports that Wal-Mart is still stocking a few boxes in stores and online, but for the most part you won't find them on store shelves anymore, because demand has dropped off.
The DTV transition was necessary to make room for other uses in the 700 MHz spectrum that analog TV had occupied. Before the switch, the Federal Communications Commission auctioned off the spectrum to wireless carriers, who spent almost $20 billion to get their share of the action. That space will become invaluable as wireless data use proliferates.
