I know that this is the year 2008. I don’t know if I’m the only one that still watches TV over a set of rabbit ears. For some of you younger folks that may not know, what I refer to as “rabbit ears” is a TV antenna that receives television signals out of thin air. It’s a miracle. There are no cable or satellite bills to pay each month. Yes there are limited channels but it is free.
Is there is anyone else out there that doesn’t need 50 – 250 channels? I understand that there is a lot of television programming out there that is “must see” TV. I personally don’t have a lot of time to watch TV. It is hard for me to justify $50 - $100 of my budget every month just to watch a few programs on the weekends if I have the time. I do good to watch the Fox 13 news and weather before I leave for work in the mornings.
Anyhow, if you are like me and watch broadcast television, there is a deadline coming next February. As of February 2009 my TV will no longer be able to receive broadcast television. I will have to buy a converter box if I still want my rabbit ears to work. If you are like me you should begin thinking about purchasing a set-top converter box before the deadline arrives. To help consumers cover the cost of the converter box, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA, is issuing up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households. Information about the coupon program is available at www.ntia.doc.gov .
I plan to get my coupons as soon as possible. It’s not often that I actually qualify for any sort of government program. If it will save me $40 -$80, then I want my piece of the pie. I want to do it now so that availability will not be a problem.
