For those interested, here is the response I got from D* after I wrote them an e-mail threatening to drop their service if they "forced" me to pay them more money to get the local channels that I DO NOT want in order to keep getting the distant HD feeds from the western time zone I DO NOT want, and drop the distant HD channels from the eastern time zone I DO want. On top of that they will force me to spend even more money to buy a frikin HD DVR if I want to continue my TV viewing habits I have had for nearly 15 years starting on the BIG dish. It clarifies a few things, but leaves many questions still without answers and still does not give me what I want and for what I currently pay. Seems like I catch a wiff of the makings of a class action law suit there somewhere.............?
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Thank you for writing. I truly apologize for any frustration this issue has caused. Please know that the rules of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA) have been revised to say that in areas where we offer local channels, we can only provide the digital (HD) CBS, NBC, ABC, or Fox feeds if the customer subscribes to local channels. We also, can now only provide the digital (HD) feeds from a customer's own time zone or the adjacent one.
Please understand that we must abide by the rules set. We would need to hear of your decision of whether or not to subscribe to local channels by Aug 24, 2005 or the digital (HD) network services will be in danger of disconnection. Please reply to this message if you would like us to add the service to your account or you can do so by going to DIRECTV.com and signing into your online account.
As you may have heard, we are getting ready to offer HD programming from local channels in select cities. We expect to be serving at least 12 cities by the end of this year, and then gradually expanding our coverage to more and more cities across the country over the next two years.
The first 12 cities are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa and Washington, D.C. Additional cities will be announced at a future date. The channels we offer will carry a mix of digital standard-definition and HD programming.
Our goal is eventually to offer HD programming from local channels to nearly every home we serve in the United States. And that’s not all. We will also be adding the capacity to carry more than 150 national HD channels as they become available.
To accomplish this, we're launching four new satellites (the first one launched in late April). When the first two satellites are fully deployed later this year, they will allow us to deliver programming using a new transmission standard, which is the most advanced in the world. Customers will need a new HD receiver and satellite dish, compatible with the new transmission standard, to receive HD programming from local channels and other enhanced services. We don’t have purchase or upgrade offer details for the new equipment at this time, but look for more details in the mail or on DIRECTV.com/HDTV as we get closer to launching local programming in HD in your city.
Thanks again for writing and stay tuned to DIRECTV.com/HDTV for the latest news and announcements as they become available.
Sincerely,
Karen S
DIRECTV Customer Service
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