[BigSkyFreeper]

Directv has the technical ability to provide these signals across the country.

Not with spotbeam technology they don't. The only way you're going to get any government action is if the FCC goes back and redefines the Designated Market Area maps, which defines which TV market you're in. DirecTV and DISH Network go by ZIP Code on your bill or when you sign up and give them a street address, town, state, and ZIP code.

DirecTV has no stations that serve my area, so I get networks from NYC and Los Angeles.

I switched to DirecTV from DISH after the first of the year, because DISH didn't have CBS or FOX when they took NYC and Los Angeles off my account in December last year.

[Drango]

I remember calling my congress critter 5-6 years ago...I was having a superbowl party and my c-band, 10 foot dish wouldn’t be broadcasting it due to some silly a$$ rule. Blistered the poor fool who had to listen to me rant...

[DB]

It is the major networks that prevent Dish or any other satellite service from carrying their programming in other areas.

For example a specific NBC affiliate has rights to a specific area to distribute NBC programming. If end users could get NBC programming through other means that local affiliate would be losing their exclusive rights to that programming for that area. NBC protects their local affiliates just like many business protect their local sales districts.

[Yo-Yo]

You forget one very huge problem, apart from the SHVA and SHVIA.

Your local ABC affiliate has an exclusive right to broadcast ABC network programming in your area. If DirecTV is allowed to sell you a distant ABC station, then they are violating your local station's exclusivity.

Then there is the opposite. Oprah licenses their program market by market. If DirecTV is allowed to sell a station that carries the Oprah show into a market that doesn't carry it, DirecTV is violating the property rights of Harpo productions (as if I really care) because that distant station does not have the right to show Oprah in your market.

If you live in an area that is not served by a particular network affiliate, you are allowed to purchase a network owned and operated station. If there is a local affiliate, you are not.

If you happen to live in an area that is served by a local affiliate, but DirecTV doesn't carry local-into-local for your market, you have to stick up an antenna.

Maybe it sucks for you, but it keeps broadcasting alive. If you put local stations out of business, you will lose local news and other local programming as well.

There is an 'out', and that is to get a waiver from the local station in order to purchase the designated national feed. But good luck in getting one.