Senate Panel Moves on Sat TV Bill

[Chris Blount]

The Senate Commerce Committee approved its version of satellite TV legislation - the Satellite Home Viewer Extension Act (SHVEA) - Thursday.

The legislation was passed out of the committee by voice vote after a morning business meeting. The committee lost a quorum during the actual meeting and had an impromptu vote "off the floor" on the bill, a move observers said is not uncommon on Capitol Hill. Committee members voted on a revised version of the legislation, which didn't change much from earlier versions of the bill.

Rules governing the delivery of distant networks via satellite would be kept intact through Dec. 31, 2009 under the Senate's SHVEA legislation.

Also, the legislation directs the Register of Copyrights, along with the Federal Communications Commission, to conduct an analysis of copyright royalties that would be paid satellite TV services if they were treated like a cable operator. The analysis also asks whether certain copyright licenses are still justified. Similar language exists in a House bill.

Next week, the House Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a hearing on its satellite TV legislation - the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA). The panel skipped on this week's hearing due to other pressing matters.

http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)

[waltinvt]

The Senate Commerce Committee approved its version of satellite TV legislation - the Satellite Home Viewer Extension Act (SHVEA) - Thursday. <snip>.......
Rules governing the delivery of distant networks via satellite would be kept intact through Dec. 31, 2009 under the Senate's SHVEA legislation.

Well there you have it (almost).

Maybe this will wake a few of you up out there. It always amazes me that people whine and carry on about something and then just sit back and let themselves be screwed again.

Satellite viewers are on the verge of 5 more years of being crapped on by the broadcast industry. Unless something changes in the House mark ups and the Senate concedes to get final passage, we are not going to see the networks in HD via satellite for the foreseeable future. In fact, the few that now get CBS HD on DBS will probably lose it. Forget about NFL and the Superbowl in HD on Fox via satellite.

For those of you that don't see it, this is the rap:
1. It's an election year.
2. Congress wants more campaign coverage from the Broadcasters.
3. Broadcasters don't want satellite to provide distant networks - period.
4. Broadcasters want you to watch only your local station, even if it's crappy, low-power, multi-cast, pre-empted, SD garbage.
5. Locals on satellite in HD is not going to happen.
Connect the dots.

Because it is an election year, congress is only interrested in 2 things: Votes and more money to get votes. Barring a groundswell of complaints from viewers direct to legislators, I think we're screwed.

If you're asking yourself why congress doesn't just stall on SHIVA until after the elections, it's because the NAB controls campaign ad "air time" and they're demanding passage (in their favor) NOW, while they have this power.

WaltinVt