WILLIAMSTON - Mitch Bereznoff is your basic analog guy. Two TVs at his Williamston home. No cable. No dish. Antenna on the roof.

And that's the way he likes it.

So, in January, Bereznoff phoned the federal digital-TV conversion hotline (888) 388-2009 and ordered two $40 coupons for converter boxes.

He was told he could expect them in the mail within three weeks. Spring came, but not the coupons. Bereznoff phoned again in May and was told the same story - three weeks.

In July, Bereznoff was told it might be time to send a letter, which he did. Still, no coupons.

On Monday, he took another stab at it. After languishing "on hold" for 20 minutes, he got a human being, to whom he recited the entire scenario. According to Bereznoff, the man on the other end of the line said he was having trouble hearing, and hung up.

"It's a little frustrating," Bereznoff said - my nomination for understatement of the week.

Something bigger?

Wondering whether Bereznoff's problem was a fluke, or part of a systematic signal failure, I phoned the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Wednesday and spoke to public affairs specialist Bart Forbes.

Forbes acknowledged that customer satisfaction with the program "goes up and down" and hinted at potential shortcomings in another link in the chain - the U.S. Postal Service.

There is, however, no shortage of coupons. Forbes said his agency has funding for 33.5 million coupons and, as of Nov. 12, only 14 million had been claimed.

Keep in mind that coupons must be used within 90 days, or they expire. The full price of converter boxes ranges from $40 to $70.

Forbes told me I could check on the status of Bereznoff's coupons by logging onto his company's Web site - www.ntia.doc.gov -and plugging in his reference number.

I did so, and here's the message I got:

"That coupon has expired and has been deactivated. If you have only received one coupon you are still eligible for one more. If you would like to apply for one more coupon, please click here."

Out of luck?

But Bereznoff ordered two coupons at once, both of which apparently expired before he got them. So does that mean he's out of luck?

Yes and no. Forbes said his agency has been prohibited by Congress from sending more than one coupon to any household. He pointed out, however, that the coupons are transferable, so somebody who doesn't need a converter box can order the coupons, then hand them over to Bereznoff.

Only about 7.7 percent of U.S. households actually need converter boxes, Forbes said.

TVs with analog tuners will not work after Feb. 17 without a conversion box.

Call John Schneider at 377-1175, send a fax to 377-1298 or e-mail jschneid@lsj.com.