Finding a Converter Box Before the Big Switch

Local retailers are playing a key role in the great television switchover. They are on the front lines of the education effort, using in-store displays and public presentations. The government has certified 2,300 retailers with 34,000 locations to sell the analog-to-digital converter boxes that you will need to keep watching TV after the transition - if you have an older television set and use rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna. Only certified retailers can accept the government-issued $40 coupon towards the purchase of a converter box. At the neighborhood level, though, some retailers may be more of a hindrance than a help. The coupons expire after 90 days, putting pressure on recipients to get to the stores and make their purchase. But many stores are out of stock or offer limited choice, few - if any - carry the most economical or best models, and a number give out incorrect information. Some are even demanding unnecessary information from consumers, throwing further obstacles onto an already-rocky transition process.