Do you lose DNS when Locals arrive?

Once the locals become available in your DMA you lose the DNS. Nothing DirecTV can do about that, it's FCC regulations which require it.

 

Actually, there are grandfather rules that may allow subs to keep DNS even after LIL becomes available. I am not sure what they are with this latest iteration of SHEVRA (or whatever the latest combo of letter is), but I know for a fact that there are subs with both LIL and DNS.

 

I switched to D* a year ago, when they did not offer my locals. I requested and received all the NY DNS channels. When D* added my locals in December, they sent me a letter stating that I MUST subscribe to my local channels within 60 days in order to grandfather my DNS channels, which I did. The letter also stated that if I ever drop a DNS channel, I can never get it back. I continue to enjoy both local and DNS service.

 

That is absolutely NOT true. You should be grandfathered in. Not because of Primestar but the new Shvera laws that pased last year stated that if you had DNS before the day the law was passed and before your DMA rolls out its locals then you can keep the DNS feeds and get the local package when it becomes available. When the locals are available I would call and ask for someone familiar with DNS and confirm with them before adding the locals. There is alot of confusion on DNS and you get one chance to get it right. Some reps are not up on everything either so if you want to keep DNS and get your locals once they launch its important that you speak with someone knowedgeable about DNS when adding your locals. Im gonna make some calls myself right now to see what a few people say. I have some pretty good contacts for this stuff.

 

That is correct. I have both and have had both for over a year now.

 

While its different for some I would suspect that he would see something like this. I know I would keep a copy of that around just in case I ever needed it.

 

You can keep your DNS once locals are available. You will continue to pay the $3.50 per network, for East and West. But once you cancel any or all of your DNS, you will NEVER get it back. I speak from experience on this.

 

I stand corrected an apologize for the misinformation. I used to have DNS and once the LIL became available in my area I lost my DNS. Never got offered the chance to keep them, they just went away.

 

If I recall correctly, there was a time period where this was the case, so those higher end markets that got SD locals early on, lost their DNS. I want to say it was the revision in December 2004 which addressed distant digital signals. And I think is the revision that grandfathered in subs.

The rules have changed a couple of times. I think I one time I was told I had to drop locals, which I did, and then another time I had to re-add locals, which I also did. Western feeds were taken away, then returned. It's been crazy.

 

I have locals and both East and West DNS

 

SHVERA is over and done with. The Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA) is the order of the day through New Year's Eve 2014 (unless extended as SHVERA was).

From the standpoint of STELA, grandfathering of DNS has everything to do with whether you were getting DNS on May 31, 2010.

The aspect of STELA that most don't understand is that it allows you to qualify for DNS as long as you can't get a signal from your DMA's affiliate station. SHVERA required that you try for any affiliate in the area.

STELA also significantly lowered the bar on how hard you have to try to get signal.

The whole "one or the other" thing may or may not be based on STELA.

 

This is partially true. STELA is the new law and yes I knew that but there are no bars for how hard you have to try to get signal. I have spoken with the FCC numerous times and each time they tell me that there is no known signal strength determination that approves or denies a waiver for DNS.

This is part of the problem. In the past you could have a site survey done but now they can pass or deny you so why pay the money to have it done. There are no legal descriptions of what passes and what fails. I am sure that the local affiliates are not eager to get that resolved either because now it goes in their favor of not having to approve anything.

 

Mika911, the distants weren't just handed out on request back in the ' 90s. One had to answer two questions asked by the CSR: Could you receive your locals OTA, and had you subscribed to cable within the last 90 days. If you answered "no" to both, then you were signed up for the DNS. There was no verification of these answers attempted by DirecTV.

As for the present debate, please keep in mind a clause in the current rules: If one already receives a distant network from an earlier time zone, adding your locals will then require the satellite provider to cancel the DNS. This provision was included to placate local affiliates concerned about losing viewers because of time-shifting.

Whether the provision is automatically implemented or exercised upon request of a local, I have no idea. But the language is there in STELA.

 

I have been a DTV subscriber for over 16 years now and I have had DNS East and West Coast for over 16 years.In 2003 SD Locals were added and I still got to keep my DNS no problem.In 2009 my HD Locals were added I have them and still get my DNS East and West Coast DNS with no problem.Then about a year ago they went from SD to HD DNS being added still no problem.So I dont see where you would have any problem unless you drop them then you will never be able to get them back.So I would not worry.Oh and by the way when my locals SD and HD were added we got them for over 30 days or more before we had to call in to keep them.Hope this helps.

 

i had the distant nets when i had D prior from the old Primestar days. now that i re-upped with D after having Dish i do miss them -- especially when i had more choices for games during football season with getting locals OTA as well.

i still think not being able to receive distant nets is a crock.