Distant locals are only legally available (per FCC, so grip to them) to consumers who do not have that service available in their area. For instance, in my area, Salisbury, MD DMA, I have a CBS and an ABC station broadcast off air. That's it.
Now I can get Fox, NBC, WB, UPN and PBS a la carte from either NY, Atlanta.. or other cities out of my time zone. These are the distant locals.