Digital TV Budget Sufficient, NTIA Says http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072802543.html?nav=rss_technology
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging In response to criticism from key lawmakers, the federal agency in charge of preparing viewers for the switch to digital television said it has enough money to meet consumer demand. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a bureau of the Commerce Department, is administering a $1.5 billion program to distribute $40 coupons to help consumers pay for the converter boxes they will need to continue watching analog televisions after Feb. 17. The boxes cost $50 to $80. The NTIA awarded a contract to IBM to perform administrative duties, such as taking coupon orders and mailing them to consumers. Two weeks ago, Democratic Reps. John D. Dingell (Mich.), chairman of the House Commerce Committee, and Edward J. Markey (Mass.), chairman of that committee's telecommunications and Internet panel, questioned the NTIA's management of the program. In a letter to the agency, Dingell and Markey suggested that the $120 million contract with IBM did not cover funds to pay for the administrative costs associated with coupons that are not redeemed and then reissued. Such a shortfall, the letter said, could prevent some consumers from getting the equipment they need. In a letter delivered late Friday, the NTIA said its contract with IBM has sufficient funds to meet the program's demands. Meredith Atwell Baker, acting assistant secretary for communications and information, said the NTIA has "initiated action with IBM to order an additional quantity of 6 million coupons" using the funds from unredeemed and expired coupons. She said that the $1.5 billion allotted for the program by Congress "will be sufficient." IBM's contract with the NTIA calls for the distribution of 33.5 million coupons. But Dingell said he is concerned that the additional coupons will not be enough to meet demand. "We will continue to monitor this situation closely," Markey said in response to Baker's letter. "Every consumer who needs a coupon should receive one and the NTIA must not try to cover any administrative shortfalls by taking money away from the consumer coupon fund." Demand for the coupons has been high, with about 105,000 requests a day. Redemption rates, however, have not kept pace. Of the more than 21.3 million coupons that have been requested, 6.6 million have been redeemed, according to the NTIA, for a redemption rate of 46 percent. For households that rely on antennas to receive television signals, the redemption rate is slightly higher at 55 percent. The program has sparked a larger-than-expected market for converter boxes. The NTIA said last week that more than 150 converters have been certified, including 63 that will allow viewers to continue watching analog signals from the low-powered stations that are not yet switching. Currently, 46 models are on store shelves. Sales are expected to pick up during the holiday season. The Federal Communications Commission has run more than 32,000 tests on the boxes submitted by manufacturers. To ensure that converters are available in time, manufacturers must notify the NTIA of plans to submit any more in September. ******************************* * POST TO [EMAIL PROTECTED] * ******************************* Medianews mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
