And lookee here! A nifty logo, too
Although a Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) study found there's still plenty of consumer corn-fusion about the February 2009 digital transition, it's probably good news that more than 14,000 stores have been "certified" to participate in a coupon program for digital-to-analog converter boxes that will come in handy for Granny and other fine folk who who still get their TV signals from good ol' rabbit ears.
According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) , more than 100 retailers, including biggies such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, and Wal-Mart, are participating. Here's the full list of certified retailers so far.
According to NTIA, consumers can place requests starting Jan. 1, 2008, with an application deadline of March 31, 2009. Coupon distribution is tsaoslated to begin Feb. 17. 2008.
According to a sample application form, no more than two coupons per household are allowed. Each coupon is good for $40 toward the purchase of a TV converter box, which will fetch between $50 and $70 per unit.
To date, the organization has certified converters from Digital Stream Technology Inc. (the D2A1D10 and D2A1D10), Zenith Electronics Corp. (DTT900), Philco (TB150HH9), and liquid-hot Magnavox (TB100MW9). NTIA expects to add a few more to the list in the coming weeks.
Here's what the Zenith model looks like. Ain't it purdy?
NTIA also unveiled a, er, "consumer-friendly" program name (TV Converter Box Coupon Program) and this logo:
Consumer-friendly? Maybe. Plain as the nose on your face? Yep.
— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Cable Digital News
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