I'm fed up with high Time Warner bills so I'm thinking about switching to Direct TV over spring break.
I have a couple of questions:
1) Do I need to have the receiver connected to a local phone line at all times? I heard a local phone line is only necessary for PPV or a 2nd receiver. Do I need to have it connected during initial setup? I don't have a local phone line in Austin.
2) Does the box come with an access card?
3) Do you enjoy the local Houston channels?

[edit - I'm having the dish setup in Houston, but I plan on using it in Austin]