More DTV coupons coming soon

If you're among the millions of consumers who were put on a waiting list for a DTV coupon when funding ran out in January, here's some good news: You should get your coupon in the next few weeks.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration hopes to clear the backlog of 4 million applications within two or three weeks. NTIA got an additional $650 million for the coupon program as part of the recently approved economic stimulus package. If you haven't applied for a coupon yet, now's the time.

There's even better news for anyone whose coupon expired before they had a chance to buy a converter box. You'll be able to reapply for new coupons. Details are still being ironed out.

Find more details at HearUsNow.org, a Consumers Union site focusing on consumer issues.

More than 600 stations have already gone to all-digital broadcasts, but the bulk of the nation's nearly 1,800 stations have yet to cut their analog signals. The deadline for the end of analog broadcasts is now June 12.

—Eileen McCooey