Posted by chicagomedia.org on June 12, 2009 at 17:53:12:
In Reply to: High Demand Already At FCC Call Center posted by chicagomedia.org on June 12, 2009 at 16:16:03:
Crowds jostle for TV converter boxes
June 12, 2009 1:21 PM
More than 500 TV watchers lined up early this morning on Chicago's Michigan Avenue to receive a free digital converter box at a "coupon swap" sponsored by a satellite TV provider.
Officials from the Federal Communications Commission said more than 100 people were lined up before the swap began at 9 a.m. in the 200 block of North Michigan Avenue. By 10:30 a.m., police helped turn away about 200 people after the 300 available boxes had been spoken for.
After a lengthy transition period, most remaining TV channels are converting to digital today, leaving those without converter boxes or digital TV sets with few options. (For more on the transition, see this story on the Chicago Tribune's site.)
"They should have announced they only had a certain amount," groused Sonja Horton, 49, from Chicago, who was turned away.
With no cable service, Horton said she'll continue to try to get a box today. If she can't find one?
"I'm going to listen to the radio," she said.
Dish Network, which sponsored the swap, has sponsored other coupon swaps--where people bring in vouchers they obtained from the FCC good toward $40 off a converter box--but Chicago produced the largest turnout, said company spokeswoman Francie Bauer.
The company's converter boxes normally cost about $60, but Bauer said the network wanted to get rid of a surplus and help people that don't have enough money for a box.
-- Cara Anthony, Chicago Tribune