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does anyone know if it is a law that cable must provide the "broadcast networks" with any service?
I was having a discussion about whether or not the first 13 appear on the cable even if you just get internet.
My buddy does and I was wondering if this was a FCC mandate or ........
I really want to dump cable TV and just keep interweb. NeFlix and Hulu seem to have most things covered.
Although we are close enough to antenna central (Secaucus new joisy) and could probably get OTA (and a better picture at that), I'd sure like to walk away from cable TV (as discussed here previously) without any ladder climbing.
Spouse is a definite no on the inside antenna. Since we don't have an attic, no means no.
“Art is how we decorate space.
Music is how we decorate time.”
Jean-Michel Basquiat
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With Comcast, for me they only provide TV if I pay for TV. If I don't pay for TV, but have internet, they charge me an extra $10/mo. They charge $13/mo for basic limited cable, which is local channels put a few more (eg SD Discovery).
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I don't of any such policy. But I do remember that my cable internet line did carry TV, even though I don't pay for that. I was getting a channel that carried the NBA, so TNT and/or TBS for a week or two before that shut off. But I do think the local channels still worked. I have an antenna in the attic for OTA, and HD OTA was dramatically better than cable, so I hooked it and haven't tried again in a year or two.
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silvarios wrote: What's wrong with one of those paper thin antennas that stick to the wall/window?
this?
http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Thin-Leaf-In...10?ie=UTF8&qid=1351110606&sr=8-10&keywords=flat+tv+antenna
certainly seems popular and small. If I can get what I need off the near window.
“Art is how we decorate space.
Music is how we decorate time.”
Jean-Michel Basquiat
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There have been "must carry" provisions for locals, but I'm not certain what the latest rules are, as they are continually under assault from the industry.
One thing is certain, though, the FCC recently granted a waiver so that those formerly unscrambled local channels over Clear QAM can now be scrambled.
Eventually, a box of some kind will be required to receive and decode any signals from the cable company.
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Cable sux. TV sux. I'm fed up. I miss the old days. Ed Sullivan, Carol Burnett, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason etc and 5 min of commercials per hour. (sigh)... So I guess I'm old??? :oldfogey:
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Yep, QAM is effectively dead. In the future you'll need a box to get local channels carried by cable. The notion of paying a company to send you inferior quality is just nutty. There are many more things harder to do than put an antenna or two up on the roof.
