With just a few weeks left until the Digital TV switchover, many TV viewers still don't have a converter box to keep watching their old sets.
And with boxes and coupons now running out....they may not be ready by February 17th. So what options are left? I spoke to the man in charge....the head of the FCC.
FCC Chair Comes to CincinnatiFCC Chairman Kevin Martin is in the hot seat. He's been fielding a lot of angry questions lateley....as he tours the country trying to explain the digital TV switch ....and calm viewers who don't yet have a converter box or the free coupons to buy one.
But despite his wish for more coupons....that's not happening at this point. The converter box coupon program has used up its billion dollars in funding...Meaning anyone who applies now is placed on a waiting list.
No Coupons, No Help
And people like Darlene Dubose, whose coupons expired before she found a converter box, appear out of luck.
Darlene told me "my coupons are expired, I can't reuse them, and they wont reissue them, so I'm stuck with coupons I can't use." And she is correct: you cannot apply for a new set if yours expire.
Tough Questions, Few Satisfying AnswersMore than 30 Tri Staters braved a morning ice storm to pepper Martin with questions about the switchover...at a special meeting in Bond Hill set up by WCPO-TV General Manager Bill Fee and other Cincinnati TV GM's.
But the FCC Chairman told me in an interview afterwards that despite all the problems, the analog turn off date of Feb. 17 appears set in stone.
I asked "is there any chance they will delay the transition date because of problems getting the coupons?" Martin's response: "There are no plans to delay it. That was set by congress and this is the day."
Options for people Without Conveter Box CouponsMartin says if your coupons have expired, you should ask a friend, relative, or neighbor to apply for you....even though one man in the audience told him that sounds like breaking the law. Martin says its perfectly legal.
At this point, though, it could be a moot point: With the coupon funding now exhausted, most people who want a converter box may not be able to get one, and may have to pay $40 to $60 cash if they want a conveter box by February 17th.
It wasn't what many in the audience wanted to hear, but Martin had no magic up his sleeve.
As always, dont waste your money. Im John Matarese.
