Today Governor Sonny Perdue and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez urged consumers to prepare for the upcoming digital television transition by applying for coupons to be used toward the purchase of two digital-to-analog converter boxes. The transition requires full-power television stations to cease analog broadcasts and switch to digital after Feb. 17, 2009.

“An estimated 300,000 households in Georgia will be affected by the transition from analog to digital television, and we want to make sure each of these households is fully prepared,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. 

“I encourage all Georgia residents who may need a converter box to apply for coupons now and redeem them within 90 days,” said Secretary Gutierrez. “By taking action now, over-the-air consumers will receive a better TV picture and more channels and will not lose their television service when the transition takes place in just six months.”

According to the National Association of Broadcasters, 9.6 percent of households in Georgia use only analog television; the Atlanta metro area has 169,824 households using analog. In Georgia, more than 125,000 coupons have been redeemed, and in the Atlanta area, nearly 80,000 coupons have been redeemed to purchase converter boxes.  Nationwide, more than 8.2 million coupons have been redeemed.

With about six months to go before the transition, consumers receiving free over-the-air television on older model sets will need to act to ensure their televisions continue to work when broadcasting goes all digital. Viewers that are connected to cable, satellite, or other pay television service do not need to take any action. Viewers with over-the-air television need to make one of three choices:  They can connect their television to cable, satellite, or pay television service; they can replace it with a digital TV; or they may keep it working with a TV converter box.

For consumers choosing the converter box option, the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) TV Converter Box Coupon Program permits all households to request up to two coupons—each worth $40—toward the purchase of a certified converter box. Consumers can purchase a converter box at one of the more than 26,000 participating local, online or phone retailers. Coupon applications can take several weeks to process and mail so consumers opting to purchase a converter box should act now and should call ahead to ensure the desired converter box is available. Boxes are selling between $45 and $70.  

The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 requires full-power television stations to cease analog broadcasts and switch to digital after February 17, 2009.  The Act also authorizes Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to create the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, which is funded by the $19 billion airwaves auction and not tax dollars.

The transition offers consumers a clearer picture, more programming choices and will free up the airwaves for better communications among emergency first responders and new telecommunications services.

Some viewers watch programs over translators or other low-power stations which may continue broadcasting analog signals after February 17, 2009.  Those viewers may wish to select a converter box that will pass through analog signals.

Consumers may apply for coupons online at www.DTV2009.gov, by phone at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), via fax at 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632) or by mail to P.O. BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish TTY). Consumers will receive a list of eligible converter boxes and participating retailers with their coupons. Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed, and only one coupon can be used to purchase each coupon-eligible converter box.

For more information about the Coupon Program, please visit www.DTV2009.gov and for questions about the DTV transition, go to www.dtv.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC.