Sioux City Journal

Digital coupon program is flawed

Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009

SIOUX CITY -- There is one problem with the Journal's recent editorial about possible delays in the switch to digital TV. And the problem has nothing to do with understanding or not understanding digital TV. The problem is with the coupon program for converter boxes.

I applied for coupons in October. They were supposed to be mailed to me in late October. I never received them. Finally about a month ago, I started attempting to contact the program. I ran into brick walls. Finally I got an e-mail from them that said they would contact me within four days. Then nothing. Finally, I tried again. Got a four-day message again. Then a couple weeks later I got an e-mail that said that they are busy, but coupons would be mailed when they could get to it. I still haven't gotten the coupons.

I can't afford cable TV and I am on a tight budget and really not able to afford to buy a converter box without the coupon.

Until the coupon program can get their act together, the switch to digital should be delayed. -- Will Rowse

Story Comments

ER wrote on Jan 7, 2009 11:20 PM:

" Just wait till the government is running health care if you like how this conversion is being administered, Will.

This is another thing the government in all its wisdom is forcing on us. The lightbulb conversion is another.

I just went out and bought the dang thing because I didn't want the govt handout. It sounds like Will has more than one tv so he can't be all that hard up. Save up and buy one at a time if you must have more than one tv to watch. "

TO BigGeorge2 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:19 PM:

" If you have TVs It's not camping. Have you ever heard of a radio, they work on 110V or batteries, and you can get all the weather info you need. Camping & TVs, you might as well stay home! "

BigGeorge2 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 11:06 AM:

" That is not the only problem. We camp so we have battery powered TV's. We wanted to be able to get weather information when the power was out due to storms. We bought a second battery powered TV. What good are they? 12 volt TV's and 110 volt converter boxes don't mate up. This is another Government "BOONDOGGLE". Citizens be damned! Big Business needs more GREED!! "

Yeah Right wrote on Jan 7, 2009 8:13 AM:

" Why is there never any mention that the coupons expire? We got ours without really paying any attention to what was actually on the cards and when we tried to use them, they were expired. "