Coupons available for converter boxes

By Joel Craig, NEWS 9 Contributor

On Feb. 17 2009 all analog over-the-air TV broadcasts will end. The way you've received over-the-air television for the last 60-years will be over. So now what do you do?

You can go out and buy a new HDTV, but can you replace every TV in your home? The average home has more than 2 TVs.

Oh, you have cable or satellite? Well then you don't have to do anything. Those services will continue to provide a signal your old TV can still receive.

But if your cable goes out and you occasionally attach those standby rabbit ears, that won't work anymore. So now what? Well, you'll need a new converter box.

It'll cost you about $50 to 60.

But if you go to DTV2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009 you can apply for up to two free coupons from the government. The coupons are worth $40 each.

You can only use one coupon per box and the coupons are only good for 90 days once you receive them. You can't return a box purchased with a coupon for a refund.

There is estimated to be about 22-million coupons available and several million coupons have already been applied for. 

There will be hundreds of retailers representing thousands of locations selling the boxes and a couple of dozen brands to choose from. But don't expect them to be in stores until April.

The change over to digital is coming, be sure you're ready.