All in U.S. eligible for TV box coupons

0 Comments | USA TODAY, March, 2007 | by Paul Davidson

All U.S. households, not just the poor, will be eligible for $40 government subsidies to help pay for boxes that will allow analog TVs to continue to work after the nation's transition to digital television is completed in 2009, the Commerce Department said Monday.

But lawmakers and consumer advocates say funding shortages and the set-up of the program will likely cause confusion and saddle many consumers with new costs.

Congress last year set aside $1.5 billion to fund the purchase of boxes to convert digital signals to analog after Feb. 17, 2009, when TV stations must stop broadcasting in analog. Each household may request up to two $40 coupons to help pay for the converter boxes, which are expected to cost $40 to $60 each, and are alternatives to digital TV...