Got this from one of my contacts at Dish.
New and Existing customers choosing to upgrade to ViP series receivers (411, ViP211 and ViP622 DVR) must either choose to subscribe to a DishHD programming package with packages starting at $49.99 or pay a $6 HD Enabling Fee. Beginning on March 16th, customers who do not subscribe to a DishHD programming package will no longer have the option to disable the HD functionality on their ViP series equipment and pay no additional fees.