NAB Urges NTIA To Explore Other Delivery Options For DTV Coupons

National Association of Broadcasters President David Rehr has sent a letter to National Telecommunications & Information Administration acting head Meredith Baker suggesting that the United States Postal Service may not be quick enough to get digital-to-analog converter box coupons out to consumers as the days dwindle down to the DTV transition date of Feb. 17, 2009. NTIA has said that viewers need to apply for the coupons by the end of the year to be able to buy and try them by the cut-off date, given the six-week turn-around time for requesting, receiving and redeeming the coupons, then hooking up the boxes. NAB wants NTIA to shave some time off the delivery factor in that equation by encouraging IBM, which is handling the coupon program for NTIA, to expedite the process. "As you also know, the law does not require that any coupons be mailed via standard third-class U.S. Postal Service mail, as is the current practice by your contractor, IBM," said Rehr. "Accordingly, America's broadcasters respectfully request that your agency and IBM do whatever necessary to ensure that all coupons be mailed in the most expeditious manner possible nationwide starting as soon as possible."