Government program on digital converter

But that auction didn't raise the minimum price required by the FCC, and the agency has yet to come up with an alternative plan. Music Streaming Media.

Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details. Coupons will be sent with a list of eligible converter boxes as well as a list of participating local retailers. This information is also available from the coupon Web site.

You can use your coupons to purchase boxes at a local retailer or through online retailers. Some boxes have additional features such as enhanced Closed Captioning or detailed on-screen program guide. Options vary depending on where you live, so ask friends, family or a neighbor for recommendations. Consumer Reports online, www. Will I need a new antenna when I install my converter box? How do I connect my converter box?

The instructions likely will walk you through these steps: Unplug your television. Unpack the contents of the digital converter box package. Unplug the existing coaxial wire from the "antenna in" jack on your TV. The Civic Engagement Report shows this trend is only increasing.

Mobile devices account for nearly half of all government website visits. In fact, when it comes to hard-to-reach populations, a mobile device may be the only device they own. For these reasons and more, government entities continue to optimize experiences for mobile devices from building mobile-responsive websites to eliminating the need for PDFs. For example, in Columbia County, Georgia , leaders delivered a well-designed, mobile-friendly government website that quickly connect citizens to the information and services they want.

Data is no longer the domain of a select few. Technological solutions have made data available to a more democratic range of government leaders and practitioners. The data provides context and feedback that in turn helps government become more efficient and more responsive to citizen wants and needs.

Data is impacting everything from housing and transportation to the citizen experience. At the same time, government leaders acknowledge that clear rules are required for gathering, handling, and using the growing amount of data available. In Culver City, California , leaders are using data from their communications software, govDelivery, to measure and improve citizen engagements. In the last year, they sent 2. In an ideal world, digital transformation in government would be as simple as aligning technological solutions to demand.

However, the modernization of government bears significant change and requires close evaluation of the below considerations and more.

Today, cloud technologies are considered as secure, if not more secure, than traditional software. NARDA's members, however are not limited to retailers, but also include manufacturers, suppliers and vendors. The proposed rules place certain compliance requirements on manufacturers and retailers that choose to participate in the program. For example, the proposed rule requires retailers to certify under law that they: 1 will educate their customers on the necessity for and the installation of a converter box; 2 have systems in place that can be easily audited as well as systems that have the ability to prevent fraud and abuse in the coupon program; 3 are willing to be audited at any time during the course of the coupon program; 4 have the ability to electronically provide NTIA with sales information related to coupons used in the purchase of converter boxes, specifically tracking each serialized coupon by number with a corresponding certified converter box purchase; and 5 will only submit coupons for redemption as a result of purchases made for converter boxes certified by NTIA.

The Notice also requires retailers to submit coupons for redemption within 30 days after they have been used for a purchase, and to retain hard copies of sales information for one year after the purchase.

With respect to manufacturers, the proposed rule provides standards that will be required for converter boxes for the coupon program. These standards are necessary to comply with the Act and to ensure that converter boxes function properly. Manufacturers will be required to submit a self certification that affirms that these standards have been met. The proposed rule has minimal economic impact on small entities. Participation in the coupon program on all levels - - consumers, manufacturers, and retailers - - is voluntary.

Thus any significant economic impact would not be caused by the proposed rule that creates and implements the coupon program, as small entities are not required by the rules to participate in the program.

However, if a small entity does participate in the program, there is no indication that they will incur significant economic impacts. Moreover, there does not appear to be any economic impact on small businesses by a decision not to participate in the program.

Although there may be costs associated with accepting the coupons and distributing the converter boxes, the coupon program does not restrict the retailer in pricing the converter box. Manufacturers and retailers may consider these associated costs and establish the wholesale and retail price of the converter boxes to recoup any associated costs. In fact, the coupon program anticipates that there will be a co-pay element to the purchase price.

Thus, to the extent that a small retailer or manufacturer incurs costs as a result of this program, those costs can be recouped though the retail or wholesale price which the retailer and manufacturer are at liberty to choose. Section D of this IRFA provides the compliance requirements of the proposed rule that retailers must assume if they decide to participate in the coupon program. Besides the time that it takes to submit a certification form to NTIA, there will be actual costs associated with meeting these compliance requirements.

These costs, however, are difficult to quantify because of many varying factors. However, we anticipate that the costs would be minimal because retailers and manufacturers may already have the ability to meet the requirements associated with participation in this program. For example, retailers would have to ensure that employees are capable of educating customers about the necessity for and installation of converter boxes.

The costs for this compliance would be calculated by the number of hours it would take to train employees. The estimate would depend on a number of factors such as the existing sales force's expertise, number of employees, salary levels, type of converter box that is certified, and the consumer knowledge.

The proposed rule also requires retailers to have systems in place that can be easily audited as well as systems that have the ability to prevent fraud and abuse in the coupon program.

We assume that most businesses would have systems in place that can be easily audited, and therefore, we do not anticipate that small businesses will have to assume a cost to purchase a new system for the coupon program.

Retailers must also have systems in place that have the ability to prevent fraud and abuse in the coupon program.

We assume that most retailers are familiar with and accept coupons for merchandise, and that they have in place systems to prevent fraud. The nature of this coupon program, however, may require participating retailers to assume additional costs associated with preventing fraud.

These costs cannot be estimated at this point in the rulemaking process. There may be costs associated in complying with an audit. These costs would most likely be calculated in terms of employee hourly rates. The associated costs depends on the nature and extent of an audit. There are also costs associated with handling coupons, that is, accepting the coupons, submitting the coupons for redemption, and retaining hard copies of the coupons pursuant to the regulations. Again, these associated costs depend on a number of factors such as the particular systems that retailers currently have in place, as well as the extent to which these cost can be absorbed within existing procedures that the retailer has in place.

Likewise there are costs associated with small manufacturers complying with the proposed rule. Manufacturers must ensure that the converter box meet the standards outlined in the final rule. Manufacturers would also have to assume up front costs of manufacturing and distributing the boxes to certified retail outlets. These costs are dependent upon a number of factors such as the cost to the manufacturer to build the converter box pursuant to regulations, the manufacturer's established distribution lines, the number of retailers participating, and any relationship that may or may not exist between the manufacturer and the retailer.

The proposed rule does not provide a small business exemption for any compliance requirements. To the extent possible, the proposed rule limits reporting and recordkeeping requirements to only those necessary to provide the coupons in accordance with the Act.

Any exemption or waiver of the requirements imposed on manufacturers or retailers would potentially subject the program to waste, fraud and abuse. It is not essential that small businesses obtain a waiver of the certification requirement outlined in the section above.

It is important for small retail businesses participating in the program to be knowledgeable on the particular converter boxes certified by the program, and for their sales staff to be able to provide direction and guidance for consumers.

Moreover, these retailers would have to utilize systems that accommodate the government issued coupons. In the long run, the certification program may provide some protection from consumer liability for small businesses that provide converter boxes consistent with the government-established certification requirement.

As such, a small business could assure customers that the converter box meets government standards, which may offset returns and other issues that could cause additional costs for the business.

The requirement for retailers to submit coupons for redemption within 30 days after they have been used for purchase, and the requirement to retain hard copies of sales information for one year after the purchase also should not be waived for small businesses.

These redemption and record- keeping requirements are necessary to keep track of the number of coupons used and to ensure that the program can be properly audited at any time. The ability of the agency to monitor the program and to audit the program outweighs any burden on small businesses to comply with these requirements.

Again, any costs imposed on small businesses to comply with these requirements can be recouped through the retail price of the converter box.

Likewise, compliance requirements cannot be waived for small businesses that manufacturer converter boxes. The standards outlined in the proposed rule are necessary to comply with the Act and to ensure that the converter boxes certified by the program function properly. Regarding alternatives considered, the proposed rule requests comment on whether a paper coupon or an electronic coupon card should be used. If an electronic coupon card is used, small businesses may not be able to participate in the coupon program if they do not have a system in place that accepts coupons electronically.

On the other hand, paper coupons may present an additional burden on small businesses in processing the sale and submitting the hard copy for redemption. Either of these alternatives will only affect small businesses to the extent that they choose to participate in the coupon program. NTIA has taken steps to minimize burdens on small retailers and manufacturers in its proposed rule. For example, NTIA has proposed a self-certification process for both retailers and manufacturers for the compliance requirements discussed above.

Either option includes additional steps in the certification process and therefore would increase time and cost. We have also sought to minimize burdens on small retailers by proposing clear rules with respect to the redemption process. Retailers have certainty that if they submit there coupons within the time established in the rules, they will be reimbursed in a timely manner.

This proposal removes any uncertainty on the part of the retailer as to when they can receive full payment. NTIA is not aware of any federal rules that may duplicate, overlap or conflict with the proposed rules.

The preceding analysis indicates that the expected burden on small entities to implement the proposed rule would be minimal. Census Bureau. See U. Code Regs, tit. Skip to main content. Digital-to-analog Converter Box Coupon Program.