I really don't think this petition that they want us to sign for on their website is going to accomplish anything. I wish it would. I signed on for it. If the local channels in your area suffer because you watch the news from your old hometown, then too bad.
I think a workable solution would be to make any city in the U.S. available to everyone. You simply pay for the market you want (Example: $5.99 for one market, $10.00 for two, $15.00 for three, etc.) and a portion/all of the money you pay goes to your local stations.
I think they could do it on satellite, but it would be quite expensive. Because you would have to make all local channels conus; spot beam would be gone. That means more satellite capacity would be needed (even in MPEG 4) to do this.
I don't think they could do it OR want to do it on cable.
So, if you want it, you need a satellite system.
However, I don't think we'll get enough people to sign the petition to make the government consider it. They are too set in their ways! !sadroll