Washington, D.C. (May 9, 2008) -- Meredith Baker Attwell, acting chief of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said yesterday that her agency has the authority to allow Americans to reapply for Digital TV converter coupons.

However, Attwell refused to say whether the agency would actually do so, according to an article by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine.

On February 17, 2009, all full-powered local stations must switch their analog signals to digital which means viewers will need a Digital TV, a digital converter box or a pay TV subscription to watch television.

The feds are offering two $40 coupons for consumers to buy the converter boxes, which cost around $60. The boxes will enable an analog TV to display the new digital signals. However, consumers must use the coupons within 90 days after receiving them.

Several senators have urged the NTIA to allow consumers to reapply for the $40 coupons if they fail to use them in the 90-day period. The lawmakers are concerned that millions of people will lose their TV signals because they won't have converter boxes on the transition day.

Although the first converter coupons issued by the NTIA will expire in the next several weeks, Attwell said her agency first needs to study whether the 90-day period should be extended.

“We can change it," she said, according to B&C, "but there would have to be a notice and comment period."

Attwell said the NTIA wants to examine how many people have redeemed the coupons to date.


Commentary:
Although the Digital TV transition is less than 300 days away, the acting NTIA chief is acting like it's 300 years. Many consumers will soon see their converter coupons expire and Attwell will only say, in effect, 'Yes, we could allow you to reapply, but, sorry, we can't tell you whether we will. We'll get back to you.'

I understand that consumers should redeem the coupons now, but folks, we're talking about human nature here. People don't do anything until they have to. Many Americans, particularly seniors, will wait until the eve of the transition before trying to redeem those coupons. But the NTIA won't say whether they will allow them to do so.

Attwell's remarks are typical of the federal government's lack of urgency on this issue. If the feds really want this transition to work, it better change course and soon.

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