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Anthony G. Wilhelm, Ph.D. Consumer Education
Director
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Digital Transition Basics

• Congress established February 17, 2009, for
  full-power TV stations to go all-digital
• Digital more efficient than analog, has many
  benefits
• NTIA to administer Coupon Program to help with
  the transition
• NTIA hired IBM to help run the Program

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Consumer Options for the DTV Transition

• Over-the-air viewers have a few simple choices
• Subscribe to cable, satellite, or other pay TV
  service, or
• Buy a digital television, or
• Connect existing analog TV set to a TV
  converter box

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DTV Converter Box Coupon Program Basics

• All households are eligible to receive coupons
  while initial funding of 890 million is
  available
• If additional funds (450 million) are
  necessary, those funds are limited to
  over-the-air-reliant households
• A maximum of two 40 coupons may be requested per
  household
• Can only be used for eligible converter boxes
• Expires after 90 days by law

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DTV Coupon Application Process

• REQUEST APPLICATION
• Phone - Consumer Hotline (1-888-DTV-2009)
• Website (www.mydtv2009.gov) January 1, 2008
• Fax 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)
• Mail P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208
• TIMEFRAME TO REQUEST - January 1, 2008 through
  March 31, 2009, or while supplied last
• INFORMATION REQUESTED - Asking only for info
  necessary to complete request
• RECEIVE COUPON - Law requires coupons be sent
  via the US Postal Service

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Purchasing Installing Your DTV Converter Box

• Where to buy?
• List of eligible converter boxes and nearby
  retailers included in coupon mailer
• How it works
• Coupon cards swiped at point of sale and 40
  deducted from retail price
• Easy to install
• Follow owners manual to install
• CEA also has Quick Start Guide and install
  video at www.DigitalTips.org

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DTV Converter Box Coupon Program Status

• As of 03/04/08, 6.8 million coupons have been
  requested from 3.6 million households
• About 10,000 retail locations are participating,
  with inventory and trained staff
• 47 converter boxes have been tested and
  certified 4 with analog pass through
• Earned media has garnered over 350 million media
  impressions since late Sept.

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NTIA Consumer Education Overview

• Goal Educate U.S. residents who receive
  over-the-air broadcasts on analog television sets
  about the digital transition and the TV Converter
  Box Coupon Program.
• Primary Outreach Elements
• ? Develop and target coupon program messages and
  materials
• ? Engage and support partners
• ? Conduct comprehensive earned media outreach

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NTIAs Outreach Strategy

• Cultivate and leverage partnerships with
  industry, government and non-profit organizations
  to raise awareness and help affected groups.
• Working with the DTV Transition Coalition,
  including the NAB, NCTA, CEA, and key consumer
  groups about 1 billion pledged toward
  educational effort
• NTIA is working with over 145 groups and
  organizations including 14 federal agencies

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Reducing Waste, Fraud Abuse

• Coupon Distribution
• Verify addresses
• Detect duplicates
• Detect suspicious ordering patterns
• Safe mailing practices
• Retailer Certification
• DUNS and Central Contractor Registration
• Established for at least one year

• Converter Boxes
• Stringent testing for compliance with technical
  standards
• Reimbursement
• Highest levels of IT security
• Visa financial system
• Secure line from Treasury

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How to Get Involved

• Link to the Coupon Program application and Web
  site
• Hold a town meeting on DTV issues
• Sending email alerts to your constituents
• Include articles in newsletters
• Submit op-eds and articles to local newspapers
• Encourage places of worship to do sign-up
  activities
• Do radio and TV announcements
• Get the new TV Converter Box Coupon Program
  Toolkit at www.DTV2009.gov

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For additional information
Tony Wilhelm Consumer Education Director
202-482-6260
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