Retailers Join Converter Box Program

The U. S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced that more than 250 retailers, representing more than 15,000 outlets, have become certified to participate in the TV Converter Box Program.

Also, 19 converter box models are eligible for purchase with the coupon and more are being tested as part of the certification process, NTIA reported. More than one million households have requested roughly two million coupons. Consumers can use the $40 coupons to buy converter boxes for analog TVs that rely on over-the-air broadcasts to keep working after February 17, 2009, when full power television stations convert to all-digital signals. Televisions connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV services do not need a converter from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.

On the NTIA website, www.ntia.doc.gov, is a list of certified converter boxes and retailers, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Kmart, RadioShack, Sam’s Club, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart, QVC.