Consumers who rely on analog TV sets to pick up over-the-air signals have to switch to cable, satellite TV, purchase a television set with a digital tuner, or buy a converter box that can translate digital signals from the airwaves into analog.  To subsidize the converter boxes, most of which cost between $40 and $80, the government has been letting consumers request up to two $40 coupons per home.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which runs government program that subsidizes crucial TV converter boxes is about to run out of money.  The NTIA estimates that it will hit the $1.34 billion funding ceiling set by Congress.  Now the NTIA is warning that unless lawmakers step in quickly with more funding or new accounting rules, it will have to create a waiting list for coupon requests. 

The United States Congress has two options that could resolve the issue.  It could raise the $1.34 billion cap by waiving the rules that require the NTIA to wait for unredeemed coupons to expire before issuing new ones. The NTIA estimates it could distribute up to 56.5 million coupons if those rules are waived.

The other option is that Congress could approve more money for the program. The NTIA estimates it could distribute up to 56.5 million coupons with an additional $250 million in funding, or up to 60 million coupons with another $330 million in funding.