DTV coupons begin flowing once more, waitlist should vanish in 3 weeks

For all of you still waiting for a little governmental assistance in buying that DTV converter box that you should've purchased months ago (we kid... a little), we've excellent news. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is overseeing the program, has announced that it has finally begun to ship $40 vouchers towards the purchase of these very boxes once more. The waitlist has grown some 4.1 million deep since the subsidy program ran dry back in January, but the agency is hoping to have that cleared within three weeks. Of course, you better not procrastinate on your second chance -- who knows how quickly the $650 million it has left will last.

[Image courtesy of BreakItDownBlog]

[Alex @ Mar 6th 2009 10:19AM]

So which one of the Engadget writers is that? Or whose son...?

[OneLove @ Mar 6th 2009 10:41AM]

That's momma's little baby.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Mar 6th 2009 10:44AM]

Get that kid a Wii Fit.

[Big Daddy @ Mar 8th 2009 1:48PM]

That was totally me ten years ago, :(

[Ellianth @ Mar 6th 2009 3:55PM]

more like get him a salad or a diet.

[perplexy @ Mar 6th 2009 5:21PM]

The caption for this should read "great news for people who wear purple shirts!"

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Mar 6th 2009 10:24AM]

Oh gawd, thanks for confirming the American stereotype. All the kid needs is a hamburger in his hand.

[Murphy Mac @ Mar 6th 2009 10:35AM]

That picture is as funny as it is sad.

[From My Cube @ Mar 6th 2009 10:45AM]

its ok, the radiation from that old set will kill him soon enough

[BananaBoat @ Mar 7th 2009 12:38AM]

This kid is the reason I jog on the treadmill while I watch TV.


Don't be this kid, kids.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Mar 6th 2009 10:30AM]

Hey government! can I just get $40 of my tax dollars back instead? I don't feel cool subsidizing some redneck's ability to watch american idol.

[Ravnos @ Mar 6th 2009 11:09AM]

Yeah, I asked before why the US government feels the need to pay for people to make the switch and I didn't really get a satisfactory answer. I know that there are a lot of government programs that not everyone agrees with, and I agree with the principle that you shouldn't get to pick and choose (you made that choice when you voted), but really, this whole thing seems pretty frivolous and, more importantly, expensive. Oh well, it's not my tax money.

[Yamagushi @ Mar 6th 2009 12:23PM]

I agree, This whole thing has made me mad since it started. TV is a privilege not a damn right!!! I understand the government giving these coupons to poor people that truly cant afford it. But no actions were takin to make sure people that need these are getting these.

There is a large number of douchebags that have cable but have an old tv in there garage and got a coupon for a box. That is completely unacceptable. If you can afford cable,(or even more than 1 tv) you should not get a coupon period. Stop being cheap douches and go buy a box yourself. It really annoys me that my tax dollars are being spent so some jackass can drink and watch dtv in his garage cause hes too lazy to walk inside.

I think there should have been a strict application process, similar to welfare.

[Kaemon @ Mar 6th 2009 1:01PM]

Not only their ability to watch stupid TV shows...

But also pretty much anything else in their lives!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI

[Najakwa @ Mar 6th 2009 10:30AM]

is that augustus gloop?

[joe23521 @ Mar 6th 2009 10:34AM]

Got mine a few weeks ago. Was very surprised.

[iGoon @ Mar 6th 2009 10:34AM]

AHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!

it is sooo great that "i" have a high metbolism... eh tubby?

I look soo good in slimming black... as do ALL APPLE consumers...

AHAHAH

[STINK @ Mar 6th 2009 12:31PM]

Wow talk about stereotypes...

-1

[bill cant fart @ Mar 6th 2009 10:36AM]

Can we get a censor for that pic?!

[Ash @ Mar 6th 2009 10:39AM]

"...who knows how quickly the $650 million it has left will last."

After ~12150000 more coupons?

[JJ @ Mar 6th 2009 10:44AM]

Do the Truffle Shuffle!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_UsDrreJeo

[Major4Play @ Mar 6th 2009 10:45AM]

The right to bear arms and the right to digital TV, that consitution just keeps on giving !

In the UK they have spent millions advertising and we have an anologue switch off that will take four years, It has already started in the Borders forty miles south of me (in Edinburgh) yet I have to wait til 2010 to get better stronger digital signal here.
Can't help but think that just giving people vouchers for freeview boxes would have been alot more efficient.

[Brian from Texas @ Mar 6th 2009 11:06AM]

Call me ignorant but I just don't get the Govt spending hundreds of millions so that people can watch TV!?! If they want to watch TV they should buy the converter themselves.

[ssoltero @ Mar 6th 2009 5:03PM]

I think the idea is so that people in the mid-west don't fall into a state of panic because their TV's stop working one day.

[Sporkinum @ Mar 6th 2009 11:15AM]

I got my cards back in December, ordered 2 boxes from Amazon in February. Hooked 1 box up, and was going to put other one in bedroom. found out a guy at work missed out on the coupons, so sold him my other box for the $20 difference between coupon and actual cost.

[Mike @ Mar 6th 2009 11:50AM]

Couldn't they have paid for this program with the spectrum they sold off last year?

[Chance @ Mar 6th 2009 11:52AM]

This makes me sad knowing that this kid lives somewhere near me. Notice the "Tim's Chips?" Only in the northwest folks. They are quite delicious though.

[James @ Mar 6th 2009 6:36PM]

Yes they are the best chips ever!!!

[Robert McFair @ Mar 6th 2009 11:50AM]

"should have purchased months ago..." HELLO!!! They EXPIRE IN THREE MONTHS!!! Trick to waiting is that every manufacturer and peddler will be giving "instant rebates" of ten bucks on their fifty dollar rigs.

[darok3k @ Mar 6th 2009 12:13PM]

whos the fat kid?

[CraigJ @ Mar 6th 2009 12:13PM]

This Couch Boy be the new Tub Girl

[CraigJ @ Mar 6th 2009 12:14PM]

crap. fail. do-over:

Couch Boy could be the new Tub Girl?

[Travis @ Mar 6th 2009 1:41PM]

omg i love tub girl

[Paul @ Mar 6th 2009 12:18PM]

I was in Rite Aide buying a gatorade and powerbar.. There were a stack of at least 100 on the counter top. Visit your local Rite Aide if you can't find a dtv converter box.
They should let the coupon/rebate to be used on a digital tv, ie a new LCD. :)

[Derek Bradley @ Mar 6th 2009 12:58PM]

Man, Tim's chips are the best.

[Scott e @ Mar 6th 2009 1:47PM]

What will the converter boxes cost after the switch? The store prices may have been inflated to get that rebate money. My guess is they will be $20 after the switch.

[Tony @ Mar 6th 2009 7:43PM]

3 Digital Converter Box I recommend

http://www.bestdealsonar.com/good-and-cheap-zinwell-zat-950a-digital-to-analog-tv-converter-box/
http://www.bestdealsonar.com/20-off-access-hd-1080d-ntia-approved-digital-to-analog-tv-converter-box/
http://www.bestdealsonar.com/38-off-tivax-stb-t8-digital-to-analog-tv-converter-box-discount/

For me, Zinwell ZAT-950A is the best.

[FILA @ Mar 6th 2009 11:40PM]

fat little fucker isnt he

[Shichae @ Mar 10th 2009 5:53PM]

I haven't seen Tim's Cascade potato chips since I moved from Seattle!