Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez issued this statement on Friday:
The TV Converter Coupon Program opened as scheduled on January 1, and is off to a great start. Americans have begun requesting coupons that will help them get the converter boxes needed for when our television signals change on February 17, 2009. With these coupons, the federal government will defray $40 of the cost of an eligible converter, which is expected to cost between $50 and $70.
The demand for coupons is strong. We’ve taken requests from every state for nearly 1.9 million coupons from more than one million households.
The demand is strong? Really? For something that’s free? You’re kidding.
Let’s see, 1.9 million coupons requested at $40 a pop is $76 million of taxpayer money out the door in just four days. As Secretary Gutierrez says, “off to a great start” indeed. At this “great” pace it’s good to know the coupon fund totals $1 billion.
What are you waiting for? Get your piece of the American dream here.
The Technology Liberation Front is the tech policy blog dedicated to keeping politicians' hands off the 'net and everything else related to technology.