Loss of access to CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX.

Why should you?  What has Stelar to dowith this?

What is "Stelar"?

https://www.multichannel.com/news/nab-launches-fight-against-stelar-renewal

STELAR law (Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act)

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@shannon02 wrote:

https://www.multichannel.com/news/nab-launches-fight-against-stelar-renewal

---

Thanks. So the National Association of Broadcasters think that rural folks should be cut off???  How sweet!

“If Congress fails to re-authorize STELAR, hundreds of thousands of consumers, mostly in rural areas, would lose their broadcast channels from satellite," said Trent Duffy, spokesperson for the cable and satellite-backed American Television Alliance. "Congress should not only re-authorize STELAR so rural America can continue receiving all their broadcast channels, but also modernize the retransmission consent rules, which currently favor broadcasters at the expense of consumers and competition.”

This relates to the delivery of network stations from outside the DMA (usually the DNS networks) into the handful of DMAs that don't have their own locals. Still has nothing to do with MSNBC.

Yes, the FCC didn't renew the rule that allowed all providers to use the DNS channels when they couldn't provide the locals way back when.

@shannon02 

Thank you for contacting me. As your senator, it is important for me to hear from you.

I appreciate you sharing the notice DIRECTV sent informing you of how changes to the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR) Act will prevent you from accessing out-of-market broadcast networks.

In December 2019, Congress passed and the President signed into law H.R.1865, a fiscal year 2020 domestic and international-related minibus appropriations bill. Included in this minibus was the Satellite Television Community Protection and Promotion Act of 2019, and the Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019. These sections made the Section 119 license permanent for a select group of “unserved households” such as RVs, long distance truckers, and households in short markets that do not receive at least one of the four major broadcasters. Satellite providers may qualify for a Section 119 license if they deliver full local service into all 210 designated market areas (DMAs) by May 31, 2020. The Copyright Royalty Board will continue to set Section 119 rates. These sections also permanently extended the requirement for entities to negotiate in good faith, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) retaining its ability to resolve disputes leading to service disruptions. The bill further stipulated that broadcasters are permanently prohibited from entering into exclusive retransmission consent agreements and that cable or satellite providers with under 500,000 subscribers may negotiate retransmission consent with broadcast station groups providing service to more than one-fifth of U.S. households owning a television. Finally, it provides certain consumer service requirements related to cost disclosures, equipment fees, and cancellations.

The accompanying bill report language for H.R.1865 directs the director of the United States Copyright Office to study the impact of the newly enacted changes to the STELAR Act and share its report with Congress.

I understand that you want to continue receiving your previous television channels. Please know that I will continue to monitor this issue. Your comments will be helpful to me should the full Senate examine how STELAR changes have impacted broadcast services.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. I hope you will continue to keep me informed of federal matters that are important to you. My offices in Iowa, as well as in Washington, D.C., are here to serve you.

Sincerely,

Chuck Grassley

United States Senate

@lwulf408

I'm assuming you are sharing a transcript of a letter you received and that you are not a senator. Cannot post in an official capacity with a anonymous account/username.

Simply put, STELAR Act expired so TV providers were no longer allowed to provide DNS (East/West Coast) channels anymore. However, DirecTV has been working with the major networks for an alternative agreement to get around this. Beyond that, everyone is waiting on more info.

@mandbca @directv

The waivers don't matter anymore but Directv did negotiate new agreements with CBS/NBC/FOX, some subscribers are reporting that they still have FOX/NBC E/W feeds but they have lost CBS.

It is possible that your channels were turned off before the new agreements were made, I would call in and see if they can be turned on, maybe only FOX and NBC can be turned back on but it is better than nothing and worth a shot.

Also note that the customer service reps might not have the proper information, so if they deny you, I would continue to call in every month until something new gets reported.

Also check the DBS Forums or the TV Answer Man site as there are frequent updates on this situation, just google for those as this site does not allow many outside links.

Good luck and if you are able to get them or some of them turned back on please tell the service rep you have a relative in the same boat, how did he or she do it, and if they tell you please report the information back here, stay safe.

@shannon02 Thanks for the info. I've been on hold with Direct TV for 2 hours now, because my husband is so disturbed by the loss of networks. Despite the hundreds of dollars we spend each month, we hardly ever watch more than 10 total channels. All the others are surplus but the programming is so difficult to obtain that our subscription is outrageously expensive. When I get into the third hour I believe I will have just have to cancel and switch to DISH. This is absurd; the recorded "we are sorry for the delay, and we appreciate your patience" may work for the government, but it's ridiculous for someone that is sending a monthly bill for "service."

DirecTV (not Direct TV) may only provide you locals for you Designated Market Area (DMA) by Federal regulations. Though they must have an agreement with the local channel owner of course.

Verify by www.directv.com/locals for what DirecTV should be able to provide you. Goes by zip code, but sometimes the county may matter.

You are getting the service that you pay for. But that does not obligate you to get channels that DirecTV does not have available for you. As for the hold times, that is a result of Covid-19. With all the stay at home orders, they were required to close many call centers temporarily. Hopefully in the coming weeks they will begin to return to normal staffing levels, provided nothing further happens with the pandemic.

The only loss of networks should be for the DNS channels. The networks lobbied to let the STELAR Act expire. TV providers wanted to still be able to provide them. The networks won, so the DNS feeds go away.

@Juniper

Side deals were cut with CBS/FOX/NBC to continue DNS for some customers, some misinformation being propagated on this site, hopefully Directv can offer more clarity as to why DNS subscribers are all reporting different things, some keeping FOX/NBC, some only keeping FOX, some losing all of them.

But what I have read in numerous posts, that DNS is gone, that is not true.

These "last minute" deals are unclear. We shall have to wait for info to come out on what exactly these means for the former DNS subscribers now that the STELAR Act has expired. Whatever the updated agreements are they are so new that there isn't much details on them yet.

I agree, they are unclear, so why are you writing that the DNS are all gone and there is nothing to be done about that, let's stick with facts please.

@ATTTimCS , Tim, if you are still out there, I know friends and family that are actually afraid to call, some of them have retained NBC/FOX distant feeds, they lost CBS or ABC or both, they'd like to know if the new CBS side deal will allow them to get back CBS but they are afraid by calling in, somehow, Directv will say, hey look, NBC/FOX is on, you should lose those two, sounds farfetched but this is Directv, anything is possible.

I doubt that is the case, I think that NBC/FOX cut the deals first, with a wide latitude, anyone that still has those turned on, it is not a glitch, I believe it must be rock solid, but still, Tim, without any direction many are lost, if you can shine a light on this, it would help us all, good luck to all.

I have spent many hours on hold trying to add local to my program and continue to get transferred and no success

I too am trying to receive local channels via Direct TV. As they have now discontinued the ability to get a national feed, I have no access, other than an antenna. Thus no ability to use the DVR. I have had a technician come out and said all that needs to happen is the a "switch" at HQ needs to be thrown. I have spent two hours trying to talk with someone and then being told that local channels are not available. They are in my guide and lit up just like other stations. I have been a loyal customer for 22 years and am being forced to look elsewhere. No where to elevate conversation.

There is no switch, DTV can't give you any locals not in your DMA(Designated Marketing Area), we don't know if DTV has the transponders to send the locals or they don't have a contract with the locals or if it is that the FCC has to redraw the DMA to include the locals. Bottom line is your locals won the fight to allow the DNS channels to expire and there is nothing DTV can do to at this time to give you your locals.

You cannot "add" local channels. You either have them or you don't.

Check www.directv.com/locals to see what locals are available (if any).

If you live in a Designated Market Area (DMA) that has no locals, that is unfortunate. The national feeds (DNS) for those areas are no longer allowed as the networks lobbied to have the STELAR Act expire. TV providers tried to have it renewed so they could continue providing the DNS channels. So now we shall see what happens in the future. My hope is that the DMA lines will be expended so that there are no uncovered areas so that DirecTV may provide locals of some sort. We shall see.

We're happy to help, @Jill_C.

Since the channels were recently added, we suggest resetting your receiver. This will refresh your system and it should ensure that all channels are included and functioning. Let us know if this helps. We'll be here if you require further assistance.

Aminah, AT&T Community Specialist

@ATTHelp - we lost abc cbs and nbc on our direct tv- what can we do to get it back

Nothing as the FCC allowed the DNS channels to expire and no provider that was using them can add the locals to their service despite what was posted above.

You can get an OTA antenna connected to your TVs OTA tuner.

The FCC allowed the DNS channels to expire, they will not be back.

@shannon02 @havasusmith06 @directv

Not 100 percent true, Directv has cut side agreements with CBS, FOX, and NBC to continue DNS for some customers but they have declined to provide more details.

Some people have retained NBC and FOX E/W feeds but lost NBC and ABC, some have only kept FOX.

If you lost them all or a portion, I would call in to find out if you can have them reinstated based on the new deals cut with the networks, please report back here what Directv tells you.

And to @Directv, can you please give us more details and the proper number to call in to figure out how the side deals change things for both the RV customers and home subscribers who were receiving DNS channels, thanks.

@havasusmith06

It was the STELAR Act that allowed TV providers to provide long distance locals, those East/West Coast feeds, the Distant Network Services (DNS). Networks lobbied the government to allow it to expire and won.

There is scattered information regarding DirecTV and some last minute deals with some networks. What those new agreements might be is not clear. So though DNS was expected gone, they may be finding a way to salvage an option for some customers.

We shall see.

@gordongekko99

This is a public forum of other customers, not a medium of official DirecTV support (though there are the few official threads that have been "stickied").

Everybody is waiting on more info with whatever these new deals might be. Agreements tend to be internal, not made public. So hopefully it will not take long for new info to come out on how one finds out if they can qualify for the new options.

There is only one proper number to call for DirecTV support. Though their agents will be waiting on more info like us as DirecTV must complete the agreements and decide what info of it may be made public.

https://support.directv.com/contact

Customer Service

800.531.5000 | Pay Bill | Order Movies | Refresh Your Receivers

General support daily, 8 a.m. – 12 a.m. ET

I know it is a forum of customers, still no reason for misinformation to be spread, the deals are done, it has made the news, there are other departments, not just one department, perhaps the Customer Loyalty department can be more helpful, perhaps sending some emails up the chain of command, maybe @Directv Twitter, there used to be employees of Directv here, are they all gone?

Is @ATTTimCS still around, that employee was someone who took time out to help us and actually got stuff done, in addition he would research and come back here with answers, if he's still out there, maybe he can dig a little on this topic.

@sectionman

This is not a DirecTV decision. The networks lobbied to have the STELAR Act expire. So TV providers as of June 1 were no longer allowed to provide locals that are not in your Designated Market Area (DMA) per Federal regulations. Double check www.directv.com/locals to see if there is anything DirecTV may provide with your package.

However, DirecTV is attempting some new agreements with networks to provide an alternate option. So everybody is waiting on any new information.

Switching to cable TV or any other provider will not bring back the STELAR Act. That affects all of them.

@Torre_Jm @Rrobichaux83

The STELAR Act expired. Networks lobbied the government to not have it renew and won. That supersedes any grandfathering DirecTV or any other TV provider had done. Without the STELAR Act, TV providers could no longer provide the East/West Coast (DNS) channels.

However, they apparently have been working on some new agreements with some of those local networks in lieu of the Act being renewed. So everybody is waiting on more info to see if the TV providers can keep an alternative for those in areas so rural they have not had any Designated Market Area (DMA)/in-market locals provided.

@Torre_Jm @directv

The waivers don't matter anymore (Stelar officially ended) but Directv did negotiate new agreements with CBS/NBC/FOX, some subscribers are reporting that they still have FOX/NBC E/W feeds but they have lost CBS.

​

It is possible that your channels were turned off before the new agreements were made, I would call in and see if they can be turned on, maybe only FOX and NBC can be turned back on but it is better than nothing and worth a shot.

​

Also note that the customer service reps might not have the proper information, so if they deny you, I would continue to call in every month until something new gets reported.

​

Also check the DBS Forums or the TV Answer Man site as there are frequent updates on this situation, just google for those as this site does not allow many outside links.

​

Good luck and if you are able to get them or some of them turned back on please tell the service rep you have a relative in the same boat, how did he or she do it, and if they tell you please report the information back here, stay safe.

what's your zip code?

The FCC allowed the DNS channels to expire, DTV and other providers tried to keep them.

All DirecTV current packages include locals. Check www.directv.com/locals to see if any are available. Remember that DirecTV is only allowed to provide you locals based on your Designated Market Area (DMA) per Federal regulations.

The locals lost on June 1 were not your personal locals. Those were distant networks, the East/West Coast feeds of major local networks. Unfortunately the STELLAR Act that allowed DirecTV to provide those just expired. The networks lobbied Congress to kill the STELLAR Act and won. So now TV providers are not allowed to provide those special feeds anymore.

However, since the STELAR Act expired, there was announcements of DirecTV negotiating with the networks to find an alternative solution. So right now everybody is waiting on more info to see if this is successful and how exactly it works.

zip code and county please...

Please help me. I have tried phoning all of the Direct tv numbers. They just ring and then stop. I have had my East And West Coast feeds taken away but not given any local bcst channels. How can I get local San Diego channels activated??

over the air antenna for now, directv didnt take them away, congress and the fcc did

@Juniper can you explain better?

@7418farnum

Those East/West coast feeds are not allowed anymore. The networks lobbied to have the STELAR Act expire. So now TV providers may not provide channels that are not in your Designated Market Area (DMA).

Check www.directv.com/locals to see what is in your DMA that you are allowed to receive and that DirecTV has an agreement with. All current packages include locals. However, if you have a "no-locals" version of a package, then you would have to call DirecTV to change to the normal version.

For those who are so rural they have no locals listed, DirecTV since the expiration of the STELAR Act has been trying to work out new options with the networks. More info to come on that.

@7418farnum  what's your zip code?

The FCC allowed those DNS channels to expire late last year and they did that on the first, DTV and all other providers sent emails.and letters out.

@DJ_ONLINE

The STELAR Act expired. That is what allowed TV providers to provide out-of-market locals (DNS) to areas that didn't have any Designated Market Area (DMA) locals of their own. Some customers still had those DNS channels after acquiring in-market locals.

Since the networks lobbied Congress to have the STELLAR Act expire without renewing and won, then TV providers are no longer allowed to provide locals not in your DMA.

DirecTV supposedly is working on new agreements with the networks to get around this, but there is little information yet about how that will work.

We are DEVASTATED that we are no longer getting the Eastern and Western Feeds of those Channels. We have had them from day 1 of our becoming a customer of DIRECTV about 25 years ago. We loved them. We used all of them, plus our local channels. Especially as they were from markets where we used to live, and it gave us even more flexibilty to watch tv when we wanted to watch it. I hope AT&T and DIRECTV are doing everything they can to get them back. To us, it is a freedom and a flexibilty that we enjoyed and had come to consider a right, that any of us should have, if we so desired to pay for it.

We are DEVASTATED that we are no longer getting the Eastern and Western Feeds of those Channels. We have had them from day 1 of our becoming a customer of DIRECTV about 25 years ago. We loved them. We used all of them, plus our local channels. Especially as they were from markets where we used to live, and it gave us even more flexibilty to watch tv when we wanted to watch it. I hope AT&T and DIRECTV are doing everything they can to get them back. To us, it is a freedom and a flexibilty that we enjoyed and had come to consider a right, that any of us should have, if we so desired to pay for it.

The FCC allowed those DNS channels to expire late last year and they did that on the first, DTV and all other providers sent emails.and letters out.

@DJ_ONLINE

The STELAR Act expired. That is what allowed TV providers to provide out-of-market locals (DNS) to areas that didn't have any Designated Market Area (DMA) locals of their own. Some customers still had those DNS channels after acquiring in-market locals.

Since the networks lobbied Congress to have the STELLAR Act expire without renewing and won, then TV providers are no longer allowed to provide locals not in your DMA.

DirecTV supposedly is working on new agreements with the networks to get around this, but there is little information yet about how that will work.

We are DEVASTATED that we are no longer getting the Eastern and Western Feeds of those Channels. We have had them from day 1 of our becoming a customer of DIRECTV about 25 years ago. We loved them. We used all of them, plus our local channels. Especially as they were from markets where we used to live, and it gave us even more flexibilty to watch tv when we wanted to watch it. I hope AT&T and DIRECTV are doing everything they can to get them back. To us, it is a freedom and a flexibilty that we enjoyed and had come to consider a right, that any of us should have, if we so desired to pay for it.

We are DEVASTATED that we are no longer getting the Eastern and Western Feeds of those Channels. We have had them from day 1 of our becoming a customer of DIRECTV about 25 years ago. We loved them. We used all of them, plus our local channels. Especially as they were from markets where we used to live, and it gave us even more flexibilty to watch tv when we wanted to watch it. I hope AT&T and DIRECTV are doing everything they can to get them back. To us, it is a freedom and a flexibilty that we enjoyed and had come to consider a right, that any of us should have, if we so desired to pay for it.