** = if your digital converter box coupon didn't arrive in the mail and you need another one.
February 17 looms as the day when broadcasters switch from analog transmissions to digital, and millions of consumers have redeemed a $40 government voucher for a digital converter box. Problem is, tens of thousands of Americans -- possibly more -- either let their vouchers expire (they're good 90 days from the date of issuance) or never recieved them at all. Households are limited to two coupons, so if the mail broke down, or you happen to not to understand the implications for the switch on your television viewing, you're out of luck. About 46 million coupons have been requested. A bit more than half have been redeemed; a third have expired.
Unless, that is, you convince a friend, family or neighbor to lie to the government. In fact, that's the only way you can get a second set of coupons. If your own household is marked ineligible for coupons, the Federal Communications Commission says it's ok to ask someone else to fill in a coupon request form. Coupons, after all, are completely transferrable. But in order to get a coupon, you've got to check a box that affirms the need for a digital converter box, and you've got to affix your signature, affirming that your affirmation is correct and true.
So -- basically, game the system.
Unless the FCC votes to delay the conversion, it may be too late to get coupons. The program has run out of money.
NB: Obama plans to appoint Julius Genachowski, a fellow graduate of the Harvard class of 1991, as his FCC chairman. Genachowski, a venture capitalist / tech visionary, was chief counsel of the FCC during the Clinton administration. Last week, Obama's transition team asked the FCC to postpone the digital conversion date.
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