CANCELLATION and required to pay almost $500.00 in fee's for lousy service.....

ARIZONABOB19

As stated by maratsade, $400 is the maximum Early Termination Fee (ETF) for the service itself.  Are you sure part of that nearly $500 doesn't include a charge for your last month of service?  If you had HughesNet Voice, there would be an Early Termination Fee for that, too.  There should be a breakdown so you can see exactly what the nearly $500 is for (the ETF and whatever else).   

An Early Termination Fee is pretty standard practice for contracted services.  Sat TV has an Early Termination Fee, as well.  Some services don't.  The Early Termination Fee is laid out in the contract and is also disclosed during the sales call (before the "do you agree to...." question they ask).  

The reps will almost assuredly reply to you.  They're on M-F from approximately 8AM to 5PM EST, though it can take them a day or two to reply. 

BTW, thank you for your service.  My father was a US Navy veteran, as well.  My brother is a US Army veteran.  I tried, but during basic training both they and I found out I had congenital problems with my back, so I was released.  I was in my twelfth of fourteen weeks (19K's (tanker) have their basic and AIT combined).   :(