In tech chat Charlie referred to lifeline from cable companies as being required by FCC- should be minimal charge he said around $10 for just networks from cable.
As usual, Chucky did NOT tell you the whole story...
Cable co.
that are above a certain threshold of size, or in a competitive market condition, are NOT subject to these rules & do NOT have to offer any "lifelife" type of service. I know this for a fact because we have a cable co. outside of Springfield, run by a private "rinky-dink company", that serves ONLY 5 small towns, & they have NEVER, EVER offered a "broadcast basic" in their lives & refuse to do so. (hmm, considering we have only had locals available on DBS for only the past couple years, you wonder why???) They don't even know how to spell HD or DVR, either. (or have it available)
They now even went one better starting earlier this year - they will NO longer allow a customer to purchase cable modem ONLY service at any price. If you want it, you gotta take $40+ of expanded basic cable, too. Again, considering the bulk of locations in these towns will NEVER see DSL service as a competitor, what a surprise.
OTOH, Insight here offers a lifeline tier for about $13 & gives you 22 channels - if you have an HD set w/a QAM tuner, you ALSO get ALL the HD locals we have (6 right now) along with The Tube, a local station's doppler radar, PBS Create & a PBS station from Charleston being added as an SD digital channel next week.