By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-821277.mp3
Dallas, TX – There's good news for those who still need a "coupon" for a TV digital converter box. The economic stimulus bill, signed by the President yesterday, has revived the "coupon program." KERA's BJ Austin has more.
The economic stimulus bill contains 650 million dollars for the digital TV conversion - now scheduled for June 12th. Most of that will go for additional converter box coupons.
Jim Wells, with the Dallas Federal Communications Commission office says there's a lot of demand for the coupons - which can save a family money.
Wells: The converter boxes run anywhere from 40 to about 70 dollars, and the coupon is worth 40 dollars. You can use one coupon per box. And so, you can get two coupons per household.
The coupon program ran out of money in January. Four million people are on the waiting list. Federal officials say with the new money, the backlog could be cleared in as quickly as two weeks. Anyone with an expired coupon will be allowed to reapply. The coupon deadline has also been extended until June.