As broadcast TV stations prepare for the switch to all-digital signals early next year, more than 5 million U.S. households to date have taken Uncle Sam up an offer of discount coupons to buy a
box that will make sure their analog sets continue to work. Each U.S. household is entitled to two $40 coupons toward the purchase of converters, which sell for about $60. The National
Telecommunications and Information Administration says that 10 million coupons have been requested since the program began at the New Year.
"We're doing a pretty good job so far,"
says Meredith Baker, head of the agency. But "we have a lot more work to be done." Redemption moves more slowly, as consumers wait for the boxes to roll out -- and for retailers to actually stock
them. As of the end of last week, just around 280,000 coupons had been redeemed. They were first mailed out in February and Baker says the backlog is still being worked through.
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