According to a report released Jan. 5 by TV Week News, the digital television coupon program — promising each household up to two $40 coupons from the federal government to offset the cost of buying a digital converter box for the Feb.17 switchover — is out of money.

The Department of Commerce held a press conference Jan. 5 and released a statement that the $1.34 million budget available for the program has been spent and all new requests are going to be put on a waiting list.

The original applicaiton deadline for the coupons was March 31, 2009.

Meredith Atwell Baker, acting assistant secretary of the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said there was a "massive spike" for coupons in December — 7.2 million coupons were requested instead of the 4.3 million expected, according to TV Week News.

The coupons are only redeemable for 90 days after they're issued, so consumers who are wait-listed have the ability to eventually access the funds from expired coupons. The Department of Commerce is hoping more funding for the program will be approved by the government as well, according to Atwell Baker's recommendations.

This information was not available at press time for The Cary News' print edition.