Ample Stock of Converter Boxes, Unprecedented Education Efforts Keep DTV Transition on Schedule

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With less than six weeks remaining before the transition to digital television (DTV) is completed, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® today announced that manufacturers and retailers have ensured ample and widespread DTV converter box availability. As of today, more than thirty-four thousand retail outlets are offering coupon-eligible converter boxes to consumers, including at least seven major nationwide retailers and 35 online retailers.

“I encourage Congress and the new Administration to continue down the successful path we are currently traveling”

An informal survey conducted by CEA on January 7, 2009, found in-stock converter boxes at nationwide retail outlets including major consumer electronics retailers Best Buy, Circuit City and Radio Shack as well as Sears, Target, Wal-Mart and Kmart. In addition to in-store availability of converter boxes, many of these outlets offer online and phone sales of converter boxes. Online-only retailers, including Amazon.com, are stocked with multiple brands of converter boxes and many offer free shipping to consumers.

The broadcast, cable, consumer electronics, and other industries, working in concert through the DTV Transition Coalition, have devoted hundreds of millions of dollars to an unprecedented and successful nationwide education campaign to inform all Americans about the February 17 transition date. “Consumer awareness of the DTV transition is well over 90 percent. The majority of Americans now own a digital television and even more subscribe to multichannel video service. Converter boxes are in stock and available from retail outlets within reach of all Americans, and manufacturers and retailers will meet consumer demand,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “The DTV transition is on schedule and will be successful.”

Although NTIA recently slowed distribution of DTV converter box coupons because of federal accounting rules, coupons remain in ample supply. Specifically, as of January 7, 2009, only about nineteen million coupons had been redeemed out of the more than thirty-three million coupons available under the program.

“I encourage Congress and the new Administration to continue down the successful path we are currently traveling,” said Shapiro. “Focus should be on ensuring that NTIA can quickly distribute coupons that are currently held up by bureaucratic accounting rules. After years of coordinated work, billions of dollars of investment, and unprecedented consumer education, an eleventh hour change to the DTV transition would create enormous uncertainty for consumers.” CEA has urged Congress to waive the Anti-Deficiency Act requirements with respect to the DTV coupon program, which would allow NTIA to distribute more coupons without additional appropriations.

Reacting to published accounts of a call for consideration of a change to the DTV transition date, Shapiro said: “The facts clearly support maintaining the hard date of February 17. Any delay to the transition date would cause massive confusion among the more than 90 percent of Americans who have already taken the necessary steps to prepare. Equally important, a delay could further slow first responders’ access to valuable spectrum for emergency communications. It would also delay consumer access to innovative wireless broadband spectrum, further postponing America’s return as global leader for broadband availability.”

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $172 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,200 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.

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