Direct TV separating from Wahkiakum West

In August satellite television company DIRECTV will drop Wahkiakum West Television as its local service provider.

DIRECTV contracted 17 years ago with a cooperative of rural telephone companies, including Wahkiakum West, to provide local service for its satellite television. That contract is coming to an end, Wahkiakum West spokesperson Carol Larson said this week, and the corporation has decided to provide its own customer service.

The effective date is August 15. Until that time, Larson said, customers will be able to make payments and handle other account business. After that, Wahkiakum West will not be involved in handling payments or servicing accounts.

For customers, television programming shouldn't be affected during the transition.

However, customers will have to send payments to a different address than Wahkiakum West, and those who use an online payment process will have to list a new payment address there.

Larson said Wahkiakum West is sending letters to customers explaining the transition.

She added that Wahkiakum West will remain in business and isn't closing.

However, three employees will lose their jobs servicing DIRECTV accounts.

"We're trying to find some other service that we can bring into the community," she said.

The company continues to provide telephone and internet computer services, and it is in the process of making major upgrades to its network.