in the U.S. there are basically 2 satelite t.v. providers.
Dish Network (http://www.dishnetwork.com) and
Direct T.V. (www.directv.com)

there are several alternative t.v. programs available

Link T.V.--www.linktv.org (formerly World Link)
(LINK TV is on Channel 9410 on DISH NETWORK Channel 375 on DIRECTV )

Democracy Now--http://www.democracynow.org/ (carried on Link T.V.)

Free Speech TV channel 9415 on DISH Network (not on Direct tv)

Deep Dish TV (http://www.deepdishtv.org) some Deep Dish programs are on Free Speech TV on the Dish Network and LinkTV on Direct TV.

I would like to organize a campaign to request that Direct t v add the alternative programming from Free Speech and Deep Dish. Here is a letter i sent...i hope to hear back with specific info about who is the programming manager at Direct T.V. Satelite company, to whom these requests would best be directed.

I would like to start a poll or a petition (on face book or the petition site) to gather signatures to support this request.

I imagine requests would carry more weight with the Direct TV company if they came from actual paying customers or people who (like myself) might choose to become a customer of Dish Network because of their carriage of these programs.

Would mudcatters be willing to help me in this campaign?
Are any of you Direct TV or Dish Network customers?
Does anyone have experience with polls or petitions, and suggestion
about the most efficient way to gather support for this?

(as far as music goes, Direct T.V. recently changed over from
Sirius/XM to Sonic, which carries quite a few music channels.
Neither of these "services" carry much folky content as far as
I know...though XM does have some bluegrass and folk) Unknown what music is available on Dish Network.

thanks in advance for any suggestions, support or references on this.