[opendtv] New DTV Coupon Applicants Heading to Waiting List
- From: "James Albro" <jalbro@xxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 18:47:07 -0500
New DTV Coupon Applicants Heading to Waiting List
Government waiting for funds from expired coupons to become available before
shipping out new ones.
Jan. 05, 2009 - by Jason Unger
New applicants for the government-issued $40 DTV coupons will be placed on a
waiting list and served on a first-come, first-serve basis, the NTIA announced.
The measure comes as a response to the $1.34 billion budget for the coupons
being reached, just months after the government reportedly ran out of postage
funds to mail them.
"Households need to consider all of their options and act now to be prepared
for the February 17 transition to digital television," says NTIA acting
assistant secretary for Communications and Information Meredith Attwell Baker.
"We are working with Congress, the incoming Administration and other
stakeholders to ensure everyone is prepared for the transition and no one is
left in the dark."
New coupons will be mailed as funds from expired coupons become available, as
only 52.5 percent of the requested coupons have been redeemed.
So far, more than 24 million households have requested more than 46 million
coupons, according to the NTIA. Of that, more than 18 million have been
redeemed and 13 million have expired.
Other related posts: