Yes, I’ve got a widescreen flat panel TV at home. And, of course, it has a digital tuner. But what about that old TV at the cabin? And the circa 1990 RCA I loaned to a co-worker that eventually might come back?
Come Feb. 17, 2009, those old TVs will be useless without a digital converter. That’s when the last of the analog TV signals will cease.
Fearing an old-fogey backlash, Congress created a program to subsidize the purchase of converters for those who absolutely must hang on to their analog TVs. A few months ago, I applied for the coupon. And here’s what you get. Spiffy credit-card-like coupons for $40 each.
At Best Buy, the Insignia brand converter goes for $60, so it will cost you around $20 to salvage your old TV.
The sheet with the coupon cards includes a helpful list of nearby retailers — except, oops, notice the first one is Best Buy on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. That’s the defunct Eq-life store, part of the chain that Best Buy once owned and later spun off. Oh well, good enough for government work, I suppose.
If you want to apply for the coupon, visit https://www.dtv2009.gov/.
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