The previous blog proved to be timely in its reference to the country’s preparation for the digital switch. Just a few short days after that post the news hit the airwaves that the government program subsidizing the converter box coupons was about to run out of money (in other words it reached its funding cap set by Congress). So what exactly does that mean for those who have yet to request their coupons? The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the agency funding the program, is asking that consumers continue to place their requests for coupons online . At this point they will be placed on a waiting list, issuing coupons as currently issued unused coupons expire.
In the meantime the NTIA will appeal to Congress to do one of two things: raise the funding cap by waiving the accounting rules that require the NTIA to wait for unredeemed coupons to expire before issuing new ones, or Congress could approve more money for the program. The outcome remains to be seen, either way the NTIA hopes to avoid viewers losing their signals even temporarily.