PRESIDENT SIGNS LEGISLATION WHICH WILL BRING SATELLITE DELIVERED LOCAL TELEVISION SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE NATION

Boucher's Provision to Bring Local Television Signals into Currently Unserved Rural Markets Signed into Law

            (Washington, D.C.) – Today, the President signed into law legislation reauthorizing the Satellite Home Viewer Act which will ensure that for the first time all 210 local television markets across the United States have the benefit of local television signals delivered into those markets by satellite.

            “My major goal in reforming the Satellite Home Viewer Act has been to bring to all 210 local television markets across the nation what we call local-into-local television service through which local TV signals are transmitted by satellite to homes in the market where the TV stations are located. At present, 28 rural local markets do not have this service. Today, we have taken the final step in achieving this long held goal, and as a result, satellite TV subscribers everywhere will be able to receive both national programming and the local TV stations that serve their area,” Boucher said.

              Boucher complemented EchoStar, commonly known as Dish Network, for its commitment to provide local television signals in all 210 markets nationwide. Under the terms of the new law, EchoStar is granted permission to import distant network signals where necessary to fill gaps in these markets, many of which do not have a full complement of network affiliated local stations. When Boucher's proposal passed, EchoStar committed to become the only national satellite television carrier to provide local-into-local service in all 210 markets.

            “With today's presidential signature, on June 3 Dish Network will begin serving the many rural markets that lack vital local TV signals. I want to commend the leadership of Dish Network for making this commitment. Millions of homes in America’s most rural regions will be the beneficiaries,” Boucher concluded. 

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