John'z PC Hut

As with most government programs someone has either over or under planned.  It wouldn’t be such an issue, we could just chalk it as another poorly run company.  However, in this case the money they are mismanaging happens to be yours and mine.

Apparently the administration process, or more to the point the process of mailing out those digital converter box coupons has hit a snag.  It seems the funds budgeted for postage is starting to run out.

In case you are not aware, the federal government is subsidizing the cost of switching from analog to digital, by providing up to 2 $40 coupons to households that apply for them.  $1.5 billion in funding or enough money to provide a little more than 33 million digital TV converter boxes.

Bernadette McGuire-Rivera, associate director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said at a hearing that it was possible the agency “would have to get more money, basically to buy more stamps to send out coupons.”

This might explain why I have not received my coupons yet.  Have you received yours?  Did you apply?, Why not?

Read the full article.

Also Worth a Look: Switch To Digital TV Technology Provokes Political Posturing

The Federal Communications Commission slapped heavy fines on several retailers Thursday for failing to properly label analog TVs that will have to be retrofitted next year for digital TV when broadcasters turn off their analog signals in February.

In total, the FCC levied fines of $3.9 million on big retailers such as Sears, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy. The agency also fined other companies roughly $2.7 million for violating other digital TV rules, such as shipping analog equipment and blocking technologies such as V-chip…Read the full article

The FCC currently has a February 17, 2009, deadline for the transition to all digital broadcasting.

On this date, all analog broadcasting will stop, and consumers will need to buy converter boxes to receive programming on their older TVs.

This deadline has been pushed back several times in the last few years because of both broadcasters’ and consumers’ inability to meet the FCC’s criteria for a successful transition to digital broadcasting.

TV stations must have the equipment to send digital broadcasts, and consumers must have the TVs to receive them.

Learn more about digital TV and the February 17, 2009 deadline