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On Your Side: Converter Boxes
posted 5:45 pm Tue September 16, 2008
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Anchor:
TIME IS RUNNING OUT. IF YOU DON'T TAKE ACTION NOW, MANY OF YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO WATCH US OR ANY OF YOUR OTHER FAVORITE CHANNELS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SWITCH TO DIGITAL TELEVISION. CONFUSED? DON'T WORRY 7 ON YOUR SIDE'S ROSS MCLAUGHLIN IS HERE TO CLEAR THINGS UP.
Ross:
ON FEBRUARY 17, THE SWITCH WILL BE TURNED OFF AND ALL BROADCAST STATIONS WILL NO LONGER SEND OUT ANALOG SIGNALS. IF YOU'RE NOT PREPARED, YOUR PICTURE COULD COULD TURN TO SNOW. THAT'S WHY ONE OF OUR VIEWERS CALLED IN A PANIC, WORRIED THAT A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM TO HELP OUT IS NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH.
Story:
Commercial: "Don't let your TV become just a box. Upgrade it with this digital converter by February 2009 or it will not work."
Audrey Baker: "That's what I expect to see." Ross: "That.You don't want that?" Audrey Baker: "Correct"
NO SHE DOESN'T. SHE WANTS DIGITAL BECAUSE HER PICTURE'S FUZZY AND THERE'S NOT MUCH SHE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
Ross: "If you grabbed onto the antenna and held your hand out like this. It would come in better." Audrey Baker: "Yeah."
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW. ANOLOG BROADCAST SIGNALS ARE BEING TAKEN OVER FOR EMERGENCY USE AND REPLACED WITH DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE FOR A MUCH CLEARER AND VIVID PICTURE. BUT OLD TVS USING RABBIT EARS OR ANTENNAS NEED TO BE UPGRADED.
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 » TV Converter Box Coupon Program |
Todd Sedmak/National Telecommunications and Information Administration: "Here's what the box looks like."
TODD SEDMAK WITH THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION SAYS YOU'LL NEED A DIGITAL CONVERTER BOX SO THAT YOUR OLD TV CAN HANDLE THE NEW SIGNAL. THEY COST ANYWHERE FROM 40 TO 80 BUCKS. NO WORRY, THE GOVERNMENT IS OFFERING FREE $40 COUPONS. THEY LOOK LIKE A GIFT CARD. TWO PER HOUSEHOLD. AUDREY APPLIED BUT...
Audrey Baker: "That was July. Now September and there's there's nothing to show for that. I'm concerned that they'll run out."
AND THAT'S WHY WERE HERE.
Ross: "So when are you going to run out of money and coupons? Todd Sedmak/National Telecommunications and Information Administration: "Well, we have funding for 33.5 million coupons to be redeemed so there are still a lot of coupons yet to be able to be redeemed."
LET'S SPEED THINGS UP A BIT SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO REDEEM ANYTHING.
Audrey Baker:"Oh wow!"
WE DELIVER TWO DIGITAL CONVERTER BOXES. NOW COMES THE FUN PART. FINALLY.
Audrey Baker: "Wow look at that." Ross: "Channel 7 News." Audrey Baker: "Channel 7 News - it looks fabulous. I'm very happy. Thank you so much."
Ross:
$1.5 BILLION HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR THE FREE COUPONS. STILL, IT'S BEST TO ACT NOW. DIGITAL SIGNALS ARE ALREADY BEING BROADCAST AND THE PICTURE IS MUCH BETTER. AS WELL, YOU GET MORE CHANNELS LIKE ABC7 PLUS, OUR WEATHER CHANNEL AND OUR RETRO TV SIGNALS ALL FREE WITH DIGITAL BROADCAST.
Is Your House Ready For The Summer? Ask The Experts!
ABC 7 Talkback: On Your Side: Converter Boxes
blueeyesmlk
4:17 pm on 10/28/08
Please Help!
I contacted the TV Converter Box Program 2 weeks ago. I submitted a request about 5 months ago. I have not received the coupons yet.
I received an e-mail back from Mr. Miguel Cervantes ((TV Converter Box Program) referencing a complaint I submitted to the NTIA. Mr. Cervantes stated, "My coupons were mailed on 6/20/2008 with reference number 9149110; however your coupons have since expired". "We are NOT ABLE TO ISSUE COUPON REPLACEMENTS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING COUPONS THAT WERE LOST DURING POSTAL DELIVERY".
I contacted Senator Barbara Mikulski?s office for help. I am a victim of bizarre legislation #for this program# I would like to receive my coupons. I was told by Senator Mikulski?s staff that they contacted the program for assistance.
The staffer informed me that I would have to go canvassing neighbors asking if they applied and received the Box Program Coupons. I was then told to ask the neighbors if I could have the coupons they are not using. The only way I can obtain coupons now is by Begging People I do not know and Hopefully They May Have Coupons they are Not Using. IF FORTUNATE TO FIND SOMEONE, THEN MAYBE I CAN GET A COUPON!
I have tried talking with the Senator's Office Mngr. again and leaving messages for him. I left message for Senator Mikulski?s Chief of Staff to contact me. I asked the office receptionist to have either Mr. Shek or Ms. Frifield to contact me to establish a meeting at Senator Mikulski?s office. Neither party has called me back!
Can you kindly assist me in receiving my coupons? Time is running out and February is around the corner.
"It appears that the Converter Box Coupon Program is a SHAM! How can I be accountable for the program NOT SENDING the COUPONS??? The funds they set aside for me were never used; therefore THEY CAN REISSUE NEW COUPONS in the same data base on the same line identifying the original coupons expired!!
I contacted the TV Converter Box Program 2 weeks ago. I submitted a request about 5 months ago. I have not received the coupons yet.
I received an e-mail back from Mr. Miguel Cervantes ((TV Converter Box Program) referencing a complaint I submitted to the NTIA. Mr. Cervantes stated, "My coupons were mailed on 6/20/2008 with reference number 9149110; however your coupons have since expired". "We are NOT ABLE TO ISSUE COUPON REPLACEMENTS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING COUPONS THAT WERE LOST DURING POSTAL DELIVERY".
I contacted Senator Barbara Mikulski?s office for help. I am a victim of bizarre legislation #for this program# I would like to receive my coupons. I was told by Senator Mikulski?s staff that they contacted the program for assistance.
The staffer informed me that I would have to go canvassing neighbors asking if they applied and received the Box Program Coupons. I was then told to ask the neighbors if I could have the coupons they are not using. The only way I can obtain coupons now is by Begging People I do not know and Hopefully They May Have Coupons they are Not Using. IF FORTUNATE TO FIND SOMEONE, THEN MAYBE I CAN GET A COUPON!
I have tried talking with the Senator's Office Mngr. again and leaving messages for him. I left message for Senator Mikulski?s Chief of Staff to contact me. I asked the office receptionist to have either Mr. Shek or Ms. Frifield to contact me to establish a meeting at Senator Mikulski?s office. Neither party has called me back!
Can you kindly assist me in receiving my coupons? Time is running out and February is around the corner.
"It appears that the Converter Box Coupon Program is a SHAM! How can I be accountable for the program NOT SENDING the COUPONS??? The funds they set aside for me were never used; therefore THEY CAN REISSUE NEW COUPONS in the same data base on the same line identifying the original coupons expired!!
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