Uncle Sam’s credit card hits max

By Scott Leamon
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: January 6, 2009

  It looks like Uncle Sam’s credit card when it comes to coupons for those DTV converter boxes has hit its max.

  On it’s website, the government says it has established a “waiting list” for those wishing to receive a coupon.

  U.S. Department of Commerce spokesman Bart Forbes said the government cannot send out more coupons than it has money obligated to the program.
  Forbes said the hope is, as people who’ve already gotten coupons allow them to expire, the money saved from those expired coupons will go back into the pot.

  The money could then be distributed as coupons for those on the waiting list, Forbes explained.

  Forbes said, of the 33 million coupons already mailed, about 18 million (or around 52 percent) have been redeemed.

  The government hopes that statistic gives those on the waiting list hope.

  Digital “switch” day is set for February 19th.

  If you still need a coupon and haven’t signed up, you should get on the waiting list as soon as possible.

  You can navigate directly to the government’s sign up page in our “related links” section above.