Every consumer who wants to buy a coupon-eligible DTV converter b...

earlier, Rehr had written CEA and the CE Retailers Coalition, saying it’s “critical” to the DTV transition’s success that converter boxes be for sale in all stores by Jan. 1 (CD May 15 p9). Shapiro wrote back to say at least 3 CEA member companies -- LG, Samsung and Thomson -- have announced they will produce coupon-eligible boxes. “And the nation’s consumer electronics retailers will ensure that all Americans have ready access -- via retail stores, online, and telephone -- to these devices,” Shapiro said. He cautioned Rehr that “certain boutique, custom installation and high-end stores may choose not to sell the coupon-eligible boxes.” Still, he told Rehr to “rest assured any American who wants to purchase a coupon-eligible box will have a wide variety of convenient retail sources from which to choose.” Though NTIA’s coupon program won’t launch to consumers until 2008, “we will continue to promote the upcoming availability of converter boxes and would welcome the initiation of broadcaster support for the CEA programs promoting free, over-the-air broadcasting,” Shapiro said.