II. Discussion

D. Coupon Expiration

23. According to the Act, coupons issued under this program are to expire three months after issuance. Accordingly, NTIA proposed to print an expiration date on each coupon and proposed that the expiration date be three months after the coupon’s issuance date. NTIA defined issuance date as the date upon which the coupon is placed in the U. S. mail.

24. Although commenters agreed with NTIA’s proposal to print an expiration date on the coupon, many thought that the proposed expiration date of three months after the coupon’s issuance should be extended. The time that commenters suggested the date be extended varied from three to ten days after issuance to take into consideration such matters as the rural location of the consumers, homebound or disabled consumers, slow mail delivery and coupons lost in the mail.^{[ 56 ]}

25. As stated above, the Act requires NTIA to issue coupons that expire three months after issuance. NTIA believes that three months is reasonable and allows ample time for consumers to receive and use the coupons. The expiration date will encourage consumers to use coupons promptly and will permit NTIA to use funds from expired coupons to issue coupons to other households. Accordingly, NTIA adopts a rule that coupons will be issued with an expiration date of three months after the issuance date. Three months will further be defined as 90 calendar days to provide a uniform redemption period for all coupon recipients. The issuance date will be the date the coupon is placed in the U. S. Mail.