Satellite Bills Mostly Well Received By Industry
Some industry officials said they're generally pleased with new satellite TV legislation from Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark. They also welcomed the House Judiciary Committee draft of satellite reauthorization legislation, which would free Dish Network from the so-called death penalty, a court injunction preventing the company from importing distant signals.
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“An injunction … shall be waived for any satellite carrier that provides local into-local service for all DMAs,” the Judiciary Committee bill says. Industry attorneys said the legislation would not also obligate DirecTV to provide local-into-local in all 210 markets because that company has no such injunction against it. “We commend House Judiciary for a very thoughtful discussion draft that addresses multiple issues, puts competitors on a level playing field, and takes into consideration the needs of consumers,” said a statement from Dish.
The Judiciary Committee’s draft, if passed, would also address the Grade B contour bleed issue that has slowed satellite providers’ attempt to bring all four local major network affiliates into certain markets. “We are supportive of Judiciary correcting this impediment to the satellite companies launching more local markets,” said Andrew Reinsdorf, DirecTV vice president of government affairs. The cable industry may also be pleased with the draft because a place holder was inserted to discuss phantom signals, officials said. An NCTA spokesman declined to comment. A Judiciary Committee staff member said the committee hasn’t set a date for a markup.
While generally pleased, some industry officials had some concerns about Ross’s bill. It would allow signals from an in-state local market to be imported into an unserved region that does not have all four major network affiliates. The American Cable Association said it was pleased with the legislation. “Rep. Ross has identified one of the biggest problems with our overly regulated television market system,” said President Matt Polka in a written statement. “In today’s day and age, it’s undemocratic to maintain regulations that block consumer access to in-state news, local emergency alerts, local public service messages, local political and issue advertising, local sports, and local commercials,” he said.
Advocacy group Public Knowledge agreed. “This bill will help consumers around the country to receive the TV news and information relevant to their lives that they can’t now see because of how out-of-market signals are delivered,” said President Gigi Sohn.
Satellite providers had mixed views. While Dish said it was happy overall with the bill, the company said it “does not go far enough to allow all consumers to receive broadcast programming that speaks to their ‘local’ interests.” Using the residents in southwest Utah as an example, Dish said the communities there are almost 200 miles closer to out-of- market Las Vegas broadcasters than their “local” Salt Lake City broadcasters. Dish said it fears the bill “does not address adequately critical compensation and related issues, which will allow intransigent broadcasters to thwart the goals of the legislation.” DirecTV said it disagreed with Dish’s concerns. “We strongly support the Ross bill,” Reinsdorf said.