Nursing homes may get help in transition to digital TV

The government wants to expand a coupon program meant to ease the transition to digital television broadcasting to cover nursing home residents and users of post office boxes. The government is providing two $40 coupons per household that can be used to buy these boxes. But people who live in nursing homes or whose mailing address is a post office box are not eligible. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Thursday will seek public comment on a plan that will remedy the oversight. The agency has been most concerned about nursing homes, which it says "constitute a vulnerable community that may rely on free, over-the-air television to a greater degree than other members of the public," according to the proposal. The agency would allow nursing home residents to receive a single coupon. The rules would allow a resident to apply for a coupon on his or her own behalf. If the applicant is incapacitated, a personal representative or someone from the nursing home can apply on their behalf. NTIA spokesman Todd Sedmak said the agency is working with "more than 220 trusted intermediaries" such as the AARP and other organizations to "to ensure that everyone, including the most vulnerable communities, are aware of what they need to do to make this transition," he said.
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