AT&T U-Verse TV, and the chopped off SD channels

Why does AT&T crop or cut off the edges of the picture?  Why do they shrink the picture down so that it is smaller then the TV screen?

I just got to SoCal and started watching TV on a U-Verse system, and I am completely baffled at how AT&T is treating their customers.  They are degrading the "SD" channels in an attempt to get more "HD" subscribers.

The term "Standard definition" does not mean smaller nor does it mean you have bars on  your screen.

Please don't point me to the "zoom" or "stretch", because this is not the solution.  AT&T knows how to fix it.

I am asking this here in the AT&T forums in hopes we can get it settled, so please someone explain why AT&T is cutting a 16:9 picture down to a 4:3 size and calling it "SD".

Thank you,

Ben