The House of Representative of the US Congress has passed a new measure called the Satellite Reauthorization Bill. This is after the US Senate passed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act back on November 19th.
According to BroadcastingCable.com:
The bill extends satellite operators’ license to carry distant out-of-market network TV station signals for viewers who can’t received a viewable signal from their in-market station.
The bill updates the language to reflect the switch to digital TV, like the Senate Judiciary version requires the FCC to study whether the license should be phased out in favor of marketplace negotiations.
It does not mandate or incentivize local service in smaller markets where local stations aren’t delivered, but Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-Va.) said that was not the end of the story. “I have heard from colleagues about their desire to incentivize satellite carriers to provide more local programming in rural markets and I agree with that. As we merge the Commerce Committee bill with the judiciary’s part of the reauthorization, I will make this one of my highest priorities.”
Everything in the bills will need to be reconciled by committees in each party but they only have until the end of the year to get this law passed as it expires by the end of the year. Dish has come out and said that it won’t be able to meet the target dates provided for in this law where DirecTV feels confident it will be able to.
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