Washington, D.C. (October 3, 2007) -- The federal government in January will begin issuing $40 coupons to help Americans purchase Digital TV converter boxes so they can keep watching TV when the nation switches to all-digital signals in 2009.

And a Bush administration official said yesterday that illegal aliens will be allowed to get the $40 coupons just like everyone else.

"We don’t have any restrictions on the program with regard to any classification, whether it’s immigration status or economic status ...” said NTIA chief John Kneuer, according to Multichannel News.

Kneuer is a Commerce Department official who runs the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, which oversees the coupon program.



Kneuer's comments are likely to generate controversy with many lawmakers saying the coupon program is already underfinanced. The federal government allocated $1.5 billion in coupon subsidies so consumers can get the converter boxes, which are expected to cost around $60-70.

On February 17, 2009, all local broadcasters must switch their analog signals to digital which means viewers will need a Digital TV, a pay TV subscription or a digital converter box to keep watching television. The converter box will allow old analog TVs to display the new digital signals.

The federal coupon program will allow anyone to apply for two $40 coupons for the converter boxes from January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

Kneuer's remark, which was made yesterday at a panel discussion sponsored by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, apparently means that 'anyone' includes the estimated 12 million illegal aliens.

According to Multichannel News, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin supports his view.

“I think we should be trying to focus on how we can make sure that everyone’s able to participate in the program to the maximum extent,” Martin said, according to Multichannel News.

Rep. Joe Baca, a California Republican and chairman of the Hispanic Caucus, also joined in with his support.

“I believe that everybody that is here who has purchased a TV should receive (a coupon) They are paying taxes, they are purchasing and it’s going back to the consumer and it’s going back to the state. So that’s revenue that’s generated back into our country, too, as well,” Baca said.

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