Get certified for DTV transition program

Consumer-electronics retailers who want to receive proceeds from the $40 coupons consumers can get to offset the cost of buying a digital converter box for the transition from analog to digital television must apply for certification before March 31.

Retailers must take several steps to qualify for the program in which the federal government is subsidizing the cost of the converter boxes for people whose televisions receive analog signals over the air. The switch to digital signals will occur on February 19, 2009.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has launched a new information website for retailers to help them decide whether and how to participate in the program: www.ntiadtv.gov.

This website will point retailers to such documents as its one-page overview, “Digital TV Fact Sheet for Retailers,” a retailer-oriented overview of the “Coupon-Eligible-Converter-Box” program, and the NTIA’s Retailer Participation Form.

NTIA’s consumer-targeted website, explaining the transition and the coupon program, is found at www.dtv2009.gov and includes a search engine to find retailers participating in the program.

According to the Consumer Electronics Resource Coalition, all retailers who sell consumer electronics need to know their obligations, responsibilities and opportunities when selling TVs in the new environment. “At the very least, consumer-electronics retailers need to know the answer to their customers’ questions about the transition.”

The coalition has posted an article specifically for independent retailers interested in learning more about the program on its website at www.ceretailers.org/transtodtv.htm.