OK, so the wife and I are getting fed up. We have a nice new HDTV with HD rabbit-ears. Unfortunately, when our TV loses the signal for a HD channel, it forgets that the HD channel exists so we have to re-program the TV after adjusting the rabbit ears just to get the channel back (which takes 5 minutes each time). Since we only watch about an hour of TV a night (and not even every night) this is not a major issue. But the past week has been bad for reception and it cut into our viewing of My Name is Earl & The Office tonight.

So, even though we hate cable, we thought it would be less annoying to pay a monthly fee than fuck with the rabbit ears. That and the external antennas are $100 and may not work (though at the rate we're going, I may be up on a ladder). Plus, i remembered my old tenants saying you could get basic cable that was just local channels (and ESPN and a few others) for $10/month.

Here's where it all goes wrong. Despite the fact that this statement appears in a number of places:

"HDTV broadcast feeds (ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, FOX, WB and UPN) are included in limited basic service and may not be available in all areas."

I have been told that i need to subscribe to the $50/month ENHANCED service to get LOCAL channels in HD. Sure it says "may not be available in all areas" but Comcast didn't know where I was when I asked. They just said, outright, "No."

I just composed a long email quoting the various places on their website where, even in the FINE FUCKING PRINT, it states that local HD channels can be received with subscription to basic cable and the purchase of an HD converter ($10). And yet, I'm still told it ain't happening.

Despite the fact that I am infuriated by their obtuseness, I have emailed them and will call them until one of two things happens: they change their website or I get HD local channels for $10/month. Or I go on a massive toilet papering of the Comcast factory -- where nightmares are created.

Let the games begin.... [UPDATE]