If you dropped locals, your bill should show a $12 decrease.
You can get ALL locals with an antenna with the prime channels being uncompressed HD.
I've heard that if you drop the locals package from your account you'll lose the detailed programming information in the Guide. it will still show the station if you have an OTA antenna connected and you can record it, it just will not say what is playing at that time slot.
^^^^
If you drop locals, they are no longer shown as subscribed channels on the DISH program guide. If you install an antenna and plug the co-ax into the 'TV' jack, change input to TV, do a scan, you will get ALL channels availble in your area. All local channel programming is listed on the local program guide using the 'guide' button on the TV remote.
When you use an OTA antenna, our Guide will have the programming information for the locals channels that we have the rights to broadcast in your area. So for the main locals in your area like ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, you will now see all detailed programming information. If we do not have the rights to that channel's broadcast, it will only list the channel in the Guide with no other information.