Question on DMA

[mec6762]

I've had Dish for about 3 weeks now and so far, so good. Beats the cable system that I had. THe only downside I have is that Dish doesn't carry my "local" channels(which I knew when I bought the system). I figured I can just use an antenna until local channels are offered a few years from now. However I do have a question about receiving locals

My situation is that I'm on the eastern edge of the Columbia/Jefferson City MO DMA and since we're #139, plus IMO there's not enough capacity on any of the transponders for our DMA, it'll be a long while before E* offers locals for Columbia. However, I live 15-20 miles west and north of the St. Louis DMA and if I lived that much closer, I would be able to get St. Louis locals. Waivers aren't an option in this area because the Columbia stations(KOMU and KMIZ) and Jefferson City(KRCG) will not grant waivers-some people I know tried that route without success.

I have read some threads on this forum about "moving" but I'm not comfortable with that option, especially for only having this system for not even a month. The only other option I can think of is seeing about getting the DMA for my county changed. Until a couple of years ago, my county(Montgomery) was in the St Louis DMA but was switched to the Columbia DMA, which is strange because most folks here watch the St. Louis stations.

I guess what I'm asking is there a way we can apply for a change in DMA through the FCC or any other agency? Granted, this is far fetched, but this is just a question that I won't know the answer to until I ask. And if what I'm asking is impossible, no big deal.

Thanks, and I enjoy reading the posts-I've learned a lot from your forum.

[scooper]

The only way to get your DMA changed would be for you to go on a door-to-door campaign to everybody in the county and persuade them all to watch the St Louis stations instead of the Columbia / Jeff City stations and all of you write letters to Nielson about changing back. I think you'll just have to live with the antenna, or see if the local cable company has a "Lifeline" type service available.

[mec6762]

Thanks scooper. Might just have to do just that. The cable company here does have a basic service of 2 CBS stations, 1 NBC, 1 ABC(if the cable system is working right) and 1 WB. However, it's $15 a month and I don't feel it's worth the money for that few stations.

Worse comes to worse, I'll just make good use of my antenna.