Special ruling on locals due to wartime

[shilton]

Hey,
I know this sounds like a stretch, but given the fact that war is underway and we all deserve a crack at getting the news and events surrounding the issue, wouldn't this be a super time to run up another challenge to SHVA's regulations concerning reception of the nets via satellite? I feel the best alternative is to say...ok if your locals are not offered by your carrier, you may opt for the nearest available locals. In my case, I get hit by the beams which serve Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, so I could choose either. This way, we ensure that no one is left out of an opportunity to receive some sort of "localized news" about the war and our troops, etc.
I bet some crafty congressman could put this in as a rider on some other bill and it'd get passed nearly sight unseen. Besides, while some of the stations are carrying Tom Brokaw's coverage of the war, my locals are still running re-runs of Seinfeld. I deserve to see the coverage if I want to and I shouldn't have to turn to CNN to get it either.
The law in its current form is unfair. Maybe this war is just the excuse we need to show just how unfair it really is.

[raj2001]

I'm in New York, and I don't see much localized news about the war and the troops. Most of the news on Fox 5 last night was about the war in Iraq.

[Ken Seeber]

Originally posted by shilton
Maybe this war is just the excuse we need to show just how unfair it really is.

You're looking to exploit a war where people are being killed just so you can get more channels on your satellite service?  That's just ... well, I can't say what it is.

[FTA Michael]

Originally posted by shilton
I bet some crafty congressman could put this in as a rider on some other bill and it'd get passed nearly sight unseen.Yeah, that would be a representative who sees an opportunity to make the rules fairer for his constituents even though it's not a hot-button issue that any organized effort has clamored for. He knows he'll cheese off the broadcasters and only quietly benefit a small percentage of voters, but he'll do it because it's the right thing to do.

I like that kind of idealism. Do you s'pose we'll ever see it?

[scaredpoet]

Originally posted by Ken Seeber

You're looking to exploit a war where people are being killed just so you can get more channels on your satellite service?  That's just ... well, I can't say what it is.

It's an attempt to prove that because world events are unfolding, it's necessary for people to have an easily accessible way to stay informed.

It's not an attempt to exploit anything.  Gosh, you don't have to make such a bleeding heart attack on it. 

Would you also say that Bush exploited 9/11 to push through legislation to soften civil rights, and make it easier to capture terrorists?  Oops!  He did. My mistake. :)

[BobMurdoch]

Maybe I'm just dense here, but if you want news turn into CNN/FoxNews/MSNBC. They'll give you more news than you can handle.

[Jacob S]

How about Dish giving everyone FOXNews Channel or other news channels that subs did not get in their basic package before as they did during 9/11/2001.

[shilton]

Originally posted by Jacob S
How about Dish giving everyone FOXNews Channel or other news channels that subs did not get in their basic package before as they did during 9/11/2001.
I guess the whole idea of my beef is not the fact that I can't get the news. God knows CNN, MSNBC, FOXNEWS, etc all have plenty but I cannot get anything with any sort of localized slant. For example, we get all the nicey nicey stores about Jim Smith up the street who is serving in Iraq and how this has affected his family and such. There may likely be people i know right up the street in the middle of this and without some sort of localized programming, I'd never know. If I can't get my immediate locals, at least I stand a chance of hearing about these things say from Harrisburg locals, etc. That was my point. Unless locals are available in some form to everyone, the whole point of locals via satellite is relatively useless (unless you are in a market that is served and then you don't care about my petty complaint).
The point is, our govenment created this locals mess by forcing must carries and this rule and that which meant not enough bandwidth for everyone, so who pays the price? Little America guy without locals and local stations who REFUSE to grant waivers. The process stinks and should be changed. My point was that in this time of crisis comes further proof that some of us are being left out and someone ought to do something.
There, I will get off my soapbox now!