DirecTV Addresses Alaska Service Concerns

[Nick]

DirecTV responded to concerns sent to the Federal Communications Commission about its service to Alaska, telling officials it faces challenges in serving the state but that it's making progress addressing the issue.

In a letter sent to the FCC Wednesday, DirecTV said, "It is important to recognize as the commission has explicitly noted that there historically have been and remain significant technical and operational challenges with respect to serving Alaskan DBS subscribers. However, in light of these technical challenges, DirecTV's service has been reasonably comparable to the service offered to subscribers in the continental U.S. and has consistently improved over the years."

Some Alaska interests, including Anchorage-based retailer Microcom, have complained to the FCC about DirecTV's service to the state, saying it doesn't come close to matching its efforts in the lower 48 states.

DirecTV said it continues work on improving service to Alaska subscribers. The company also said it would work with Microcom and others "to make its Alaska service even better in the coming months."

SkyReport (www.skyreport.com) - used with permission

[bonscott87]

What do these people want the sat companies to do? Change the physics of orbiting satellites to get something better then a 10 degree viewing angle. :rolleyes: These people need a dose of reality of where they physically live on the planet.

[ziggy29]

Hard to say. There are more difficulties in serving Alaska for sure, but I also don't think D* has done all it reasonably could. Perhaps adding Anchorage locals might be a good start; there are certainly smaller markets in the "lower 48" that have them.

[KingLoop]

HI, I would like to use my DBS service on my vacation to the North Pole, I would like to see some changes made to make that possible.

[Greg Bimson]

Hard to say. There are more difficulties in serving Alaska for sure, but I also don't think D* has done all it reasonably could. Perhaps adding Anchorage locals might be a good start; there are certainly smaller markets in the "lower 48" that have them.Not quite.

DirecTV's smallest market, in terms of number of households, is Medford-Klamath Falls. It is market size 141. Anchorage is 155.

However, the physical size of the DMA is quite large.

[Zach2]

I live in Anchorage I don't think we care about our local channels. It's the fact that we need a 6 foot dish and still get bad reception. all for just 101. a spot beam would be wonderful not sure realistic though

[jdspencer]

It would seem that a spot beam on 119 would do the trick for Alaska.

On a similar note, what about Hawaii?