Published: January 08, 2009 09:50 am      

DTV coupons run out as television transition looms

A government coupon program to help pay for $40 converter boxes for analog televisions has run out of money.

The program was for those who still receive analog broadcasts to television sets with antennas as opposed to the digital signals broadcast to cable and satellite receivers.

A national conversion to digital broadcasting is set for Feb. 17 when all television stations will be required to broadcast a digital signal.

The $40 converter box can be used with analog televisions so that those antenna users can receive the digital broadcasts.

The federal government had been distributing coupons for the boxes through a Web site, www.dtv2009.gov, and an 800 number (800-DTV-2009). But this week, a notice posted on the Web site announced the program is out of money.

Here’s what the notice states:

“The TV Converter Box Coupon Program has reached its funding ceiling. However, coupon requests from eligible households will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis as funds become available from expiring coupons. You will not receive coupons until funds becomes available. If you would like to apply for a coupon today and are eligible, you will be placed on a waiting list.

“If you choose to apply for your coupons today and are eligible, you will receive a reference number. You can use this reference number to return to this website periodically and check the status of your request. The website will be updated if funding becomes available, and the mailing date for your coupons will be updated at that time.

“Consumers who have an analog TV and rely on a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears to receive their programs are encouraged to take action to ensure at least one TV in their home is prepared for the digital television transition. You may:

• Purchase a TV converter box without a coupon;

• Buy a TV with a digital tuner, or;

• Subscribe to cable, satellite or another pay service.”

Local Radio Shack and Walmart stores had converter boxes in stock Wednesday and were still honoring the coupons from those who had them.

Meanwhile, some people were concerned about how to recycle their old television sets. Emily Dunagin said her family had to buy two new televisions in anticipation of next month’s conversion.

“We are really dinosaurs,” she said.

“We live too far from the road, and we don’t have cable.”

She said the cost to run cable to their home was about $2,500, and the cost for a satellite television package carrying their favorite PBS channel was exorbitant. “So we decided never to get a dish or cable,” Dunagin said. “All of our TVs are ancient.”

Eventually, they found the retailer where they bought their new television sets would collect their old ones. That was at Best Buy. Beyond that, she said the only recyclers she could find in Oklahoma were in Tulsa. Natural Evolution (918-836-2995 at metrecycle.com) will accept old televisions for a $15 fee, Dunagin learned.

Locally, a Sears employee said the company has a contractor who will collect old televisions from customers who buy a new one from Sears, but she didn’t know where the televisions were being taken by the contractor.

Other local retailers contacted said they didn’t collect old televisions from customers.

McAlester landfill Director George Marcangeli said state regulations allow residential customers to dispose of televisions at the landfill. But contaminants, such as lead, which are found in televisions prohibit their commercial disposal in large numbers.

J.T. Collier of Pride In McAlester said the volunteer group plans a hazardous waste collection — which would include old televisions for recycling or proper disposal — in the spring, probably in April or May.

Contact Kandra Wells at kwells@mcalesternews.com.