[opendtv] FW: BIG BLUE TO OVERSEE DTV COUPON PROGRAM
- From: "Dale Kelly" <dalekelly@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "OPENDTV" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:55:43 -0700
Seems to me, at least, to be a major departure from their core.....can I
assume that the " by Staff" indicates it to be a no-bid deal?
BIG BLUE TO OVERSEE DTV COUPON PROGRAM TVNEWSDAY, AUG. 15, 3:57 PM ET
The Commerce Department's NTIA today awarded IBM a $120 million contract
to administer the D-to-A converter coupon program aimed at easing the DTV
transition for consumers. By Staff The National Telecommunications and
Information Administration today awarded IBM a $120 million contract to
administer the coupon program aimed at easing the DTV transition for
American consumers. Under the contract, IBM will award each home that
requests them up to two $40 coupons that can go toward the purchase of set
top converters that will allow owners of analog TV sets to receive digital
signals after Feb. 17, 2009. On that date, TV broadcasters are scheduled to
stop analog broadcasting and go to digital-only broadcasting. Without
converters, consumers would be unable to receive the digital broadcasts on
conventional analog sets. ? This is a major milestone toward implementing a
successful coupon program to ensure the switch from analog to digital
television is completed smoothly and as planned, ? said NTIA Administrator
John Kneuer. ? By awarding the contract on schedule, NTIA is preparing to be
open for business so consumers may request coupons starting January 1, 2008,
as required by law. ?
IBM will provide services in three areas:
? Consumer education
? Coupon distribution to consumers and retail store participation
? Financial processing to reimburse retailers, to maintain records, and to
prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
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