Senate Commerce Committee Wants Consumer Flexibility on DTV Coupons
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/7/2008 6:13:00 PM
The Chairman and ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee want consumers to be able to use their DTV-to-analog converter box coupons to preorder the boxes. They also want viewers whose coupons have expired (they are invalid after three months) to be able to reapply for them.
In a letter to Meredith Attwell Baker, acting head of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, which administers the coupon program, Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), joined by nine other senators, said that they were concerned that coupons could expire before some boxes were available. (NTIA started sending the coupons out in mid-February, which means the first ones are about to expire). Top House Democrats have also made that request.
As the law reads now, according to a source, it does not allow for either option, although Baker has told concerned legislators she would look into how it might be accomplished.
In addition to allowing viewers to reapply for the coupons--money permitting--they want NTIA to consider "novel approaches," like allowing the coupons to be applied to boxes out-of-stock or not yet available in stores.
Some of the lowest-cost boxes may not be available until early summer, including one by EchoStar, which said it would price its box at $39.99 (coupons are for $40 apiece), but won’t likely have them widely available until June.
In a separate letter, the same senators asked new Federal Trade Commission chairman William Kovacic to keep an eye out for DTV transition fraud. They did not site any particular examples, but said that the DTV transition provides "fertile ground" for criminals to "take advantage of confused or misinformed customers," such as those for whom English is a second language and the elderly.
Somewhat ironically, one of the reasons cited by legislators for putting the 90-day expiration date on the converter boxes was to avoid fraud or a black market in the coupons.
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I say delay the DTV transition, because Texas Senator htchenssen got too greedy for spectrum that she ordered the 3 month expiration dates.
Tom Burke - 5/29/2008 6:07:00 AM EDT -
My 2 coupons expire bacause no analog pass through boxes were at Walmart or any retailer. And I can't afford paying the steep prices which will go down in December.
Jill Tony - 5/29/2008 6:04:00 AM EDT -
I''m a technical person with experience in radio communications. I have a DTV converter box and a large outdoor antenna with mast mounted preamp. DTV signals are disappointly weak here in the fringe area. The analog VHF stations come in clear in strong. The same digital stations are almost in the noise. Frequent picture tearups and dropouts occur. Weather is a big factor. Leaves on the trees dropped the signal further. This is pretty much expected since obtaining solid fringe area coverage on the UHF channels DTV are transmitting on has never been possible. This has been known since the 1940-1950''s.
Given the predictions of analytical models we will loose the only PBS station available-- after transition. The remaining stations are currently 24/7 weather, Spanish and online marketing with a few having actual content. Hardly something that makes one want to rush out and buy a HDTV. Obtaining comparable coverage would require me to install a 128 foot tower according to the mathematical models. Hardly affordable or practical.
There is a little know fact that DTV stations will be reducing their transmitted power about a factor of 10 compared to their VHF analog stations. This will not help coverage to fringe areas.
Count us among those who will be net loosers.
Brian Alsop - 5/21/2008 8:40:00 AM EDT -
Allow consumers who have not yet used their expiring coupons to apply for an extension - online or via phone - and get an extension code. This eliminates the cost of remailing coupons. Code should be different for each coupon - maybe incorporating data from the initial application - minimizing the risk of black market, etc., ESPECIALLY if vendors have a verification method available to them (ie:website). Photo ID should also be required.
Crystal Meisner - 5/8/2008 1:44:00 PM EDT -
Why not just eliminate the deadline rather than making folks re-apply? This is just another piece of evidence pointing to the need to postpone the Feb. 2009 deadline for the end of analog TV. Consumers need more time, as this story makes obvious. Not enough boxes are on the market, especially the cheaper ones.
Adam Smith - 5/7/2008 4:44:00 PM EDT
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