TV digital changeover may pounce on some viewers

Are you ready?

That's the date that TV programming will change from analog to digital, a switch mandated by the U.S. Congress to free up more wireless airspace.

If consumers don't want their TVs to go dark, they need to buy a digital converter box to receive the signal.

People with a newer flat-screen TV, satellite TV or dish service won't need the converter box.

At Le Mars' Prime Electronics Radio Shack, five to 10 customers are stopping in every day to buy a converter box, but salesperson Patrick Geyerman said he still thinks many people won't be ready for the switch.

The government program helping people pay for the converter boxes doesn't seem to be ready either.

The federal agency handing out coupons that cut $40 from the converter box price is temporarily out of money. Congress had set a $1.34 billion limit for the coupons, and that limit was met Jan. 4.

New consumers asking for the coupon have been put on a waiting list. They will be sent a coupon once other unused coupons expire and more money is freed up.

"Currently 1.76 million converter box requests are on the waiting list," said National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) spokesman Todd Sedmak.

The stores have plenty of converter boxes -- Prime Electronics has 100 in stock, Geyerman said.

Without the coupon, the price of the box ranges from $40-80, depending on the store.

People might need to buy a new antenna with the converter box, Geyerman added.

"It doesn't accept the old rabbit ears," he said.

Once people install the converter box, they may notice their TV reception is more snowy and staticky, Geyerman said. But not to worry.

"It will boost back up Feb. 17," he said.

Each day hundreds and even thousands of coupons are expiring, giving people on the waiting list a shot at receiving one. However, as people on the waiting list receive coupons, more are being added.

Congress is considering setting the NTIA's limit higher, but nothing has been decided yet.

"If people have waited this long, they should consider options like buying a converter without the coupon, getting cable or satellite TV, or buying a TV that can receive the digital signal," Sedmak said.

Newer flat-screen TVs are likely digital-ready.

"And if people have a coupon they don't need, share it with family or friends who need one," Sedmak added.

If they don't know of anyone who needs a coupon, he suggested contacting local broadcasters to find out who still needs one.

The NTIA is hearing of cases where people are helping others out, he said.

Converter box coupons can be requested by calling toll-free at 1-888-DTV-2009 or by visiting the website www.DTV2009.gov.

The deadline to request a coupon is March 31, 2009 or until supplies last.

The Associated Press contributed information to this story.