Although I do not qualify for DNS, I would like to see the ability for some USA company to be able to provide DNS to those people who truely qualify and who have equipment compatible with the Dish Network system. I also hope that one day the television broadcasting industry will skip the last 25 years and catch up with the rest of the 21st century so that the FCC could allow people to watch news from various cities in the country.
Regardless if Dish Network is "in concert with", or has a "legitimate arm's length business deal" with NPS, it looks pretty obvious that NPS can not just provide service to anyone who calls in unless that person currently has a working receiver with current software, authorizations, etc..., which would require a Dish Network account.
That said...
Why qualify a person who can not receive the signal? Such as a person without a Dish Network account.
Dish Network uses account numbers, but they also tie that account number to a phone number. If you don't keep your phone number updated, or you use a different number, then they will not be able to validate that you have an account or even be able to receive service from them (NPS).
How critical is this phone number? Well, awhile back Dish (or some CSR's) would not allow you to use the same phone number on two separate accounts. When you call Dish, do they ask you for your "account number" or your "phone number"? They only ask for your phone number. In fact, Dish even has trouble looking up addresses.
Anyway, be patient with NPS. Remember, they are just starting up with this service, and their CSR's may not be as experienced in such matters as the CSR's at Dish.
EDIT: While typing this, I see there are a couple of new posts that proves the above - they did not keep their "ACCOUNT PHONE NUMBER updated.