Estimated time drivers save by using real-time GPS traffic updates
Drivers that use GPS systems with real-time traffic info spend 18% less time behind the wheel than those who do not.
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How about this. Give everyone a $300 coupon for a discount on a new TV? One coupon per house hold. Monitor it via name, address, and SS number. Now, not everyone would take advantage of this offer but you would certainly cut back on the people needing the converter box coupon. Some folks will undoubtedly find a way to cheat but those folks would also probably cheat on their taxes too so lets dwell on the one's that would not cheat. The vast majority.
And see TV prices go up by $300 across the board? no thanks.
The purpose of the converter box coupon program was initially to compensate people for the fact that their old analog TVs would require such a box because the mobile phone companies are taking away some spectrum and forcing the digital switch. It would be entirely at odds with that aim, or the more recent aim of ensuring grandma can still get the local news in an emergency, to give people $300 towards getting themselves a plasma TV set.
It would also get massive opposition. Many people object to the coupon program because they think it's taxpayer funded. But there's no way a $300 per TV program could be anything but taxpayer funded.
Now, the compensation for having to add a converter box is one issue, but regarding "grandma" (and the fact there are practically no low cost battery operated ATSC TVs for use in emergencies): there is a better idea most people aren't considering but that really should be. Broadcast one NTSC channel, government run, in every area. It can be public access during non-emergencies, and provide emergency information during emergencies. Many cable companies already have such a feed from their local government, the only cost here is the cost of electricity to the transmitter.
I'm pretty sure there's enough spectrum to do this, you just need three free channels in every locality, and I doubt there are many locations that do not fit that criteria.
It's not as sexy as giving everyone new electronics, but it would deal with the major issues that are legitimately holding up the changeover.
Hey yeah !!!! and what about giving everyone a coupon for one free corvette or an new Mercedes...that would be great :) I think if people can't afford a converter box, they probably don't need to be watching TV. They need to be out there working.