SBCA Praises Ensign/McCain Legislation

[Chris Blount]

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, in its weekly "Report from the President," praised legislation from Sens. John Ensign (R-Nev.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) concerning satellite TV service and the ongoing transition to digital television.

The Ensign/McCain bill, introduced last week, would allow satellite TV to deliver digital distant networks to consumers. "By allowing satellite platforms to provide a distant digital signal, Congress is not only ensuring that all consumers have access to a digital quality signal, but also helping speed along the digital transition," SBCA President Richard DalBello said in the report released Friday.

Introduction of the bill, which aims to reauthorize expiring parts of 1999's Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA), "is a big step forward for the satellite industry since this legislation must get passed before our compulsory licenses expire at the end of the year," DalBello said.

The Senate draft still must be marked-up by the Senate Commerce Committee before it's ready for a full vote on the Senate floor. The committee has a business meeting to scheduled to consider satellite TV legislation Thursday, and the meeting will be busy: It's packed with work on 10 other bills and a dozen nominations.

The House version of SHVIA reauthorization is listed on the calendar of the full House and ready for a vote, SBCA said.

Key endorsements of the Ensign/McCain bill also have come from the Consumer Electronics Association and the Digital Transition Coalition. The National Association of Broadcasters said it opposes the legislation.

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

[RichW]

I am sure that the NAB will fight this with all their lobbying might. Here is an issue that we can show grassroots support for this bill as presented. Don't let lobbyist water down or eleiminate this bill. Let your congressman know how you feel.

[waltinvt]

I am sure that the NAB will fight this with all their lobbying might. Here is an issue that we can show grassroots support for this bill as presented. Don't let lobbyist water down or eleiminate this bill. Let your congressman know how you feel.
Amen.

You can compose a personal email to them at:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

WaltinVt

[cicijay]

I composed my own request and sent it off to both Senators and my representative. I didn't see any ref to the House bill so the best I could do was make ref to the Senate bill.

I would imagine that they could care less about the issue. That makes it much easier to make your voice heard. They have people that basically run a tote board and make their decision on which side has the most requests.

[RichW]

I composed my own request and sent it off to both Senators and my representative. I didn't see any ref to the House bill so the best I could do was make ref to the Senate bill.

I would imagine that they could care less about the issue. That makes it much easier to make your voice heard. They have people that basically run a tote board and make their decision on which side has the most requests.

It was good to include your house rep. Even though it is a Senate Bill, the House, of course will have to agree. The House is also where the NAB has its greatest lobbying influence and is where the last McCain bill got watered down.

[waltinvt]

Origionally I had heard the senate was going to vote on this today, then I heard Thursday. Hard to find out anything for sure. I expect nothing will get done next week with the convention going on.

As for the House version, who knows. I believe Charlie Bass had introduce some legislation that was favorable to satellite viewers but don't have a copy of that draft nor am I sure if it made it into the House markups.

I think the important thing here is for satellite viewers to start making noise to all their congress members. We're tired of being discriminated against when it comes to viewing choice. We've invested in the equipment, the networks want to provide the HD programming, the government wants the digital transition to take place but the NAB and local affiliates only want to circumvent the process. They basically want their cake and eat it too. They want to be your ONLY source for network programs but they want to water it all down before it gets to you.

What if the NAB and the local affiliates were saying we only want you to get your network programming from us but we're going to retransmit it all in black & white and mono sound ? Think about it. That's what's happening here.
WaltinVt

[dallas_axelrod]

The following shows that the Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to Mark-up the Ensign Bill on Thursday morning. This means that we have two FULL days to call our Senators, and get others to do the same.

Executive Session
Full Committee Mark-up
Thursday, July 22 2004 - 9:30 AM - SR - 253

Description: Members will consider the following pending legislation and nominations:

· S. 2295, Border Infrastructure and Technology Integration Act of 2004

· S. 2541, NASA Authorization Act of 2004

· S. 2411, Assistance to Firefighters Act of 2004

· H.R. 2608, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2003

· S. 2603, The Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2004

· S. 2644, Satellite Home Viewer Extension Act

· S. 2281, VOIP Regulatory Freedom Act of 2004

· S. 2505, To implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low power FM service

· S. 2645, Reauthorization of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

· S. 2488, Marine Debris Research and Reduction Act

· S. 2647, A bill to establish a national ocean policy, to set forth the missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Aministration, to ensure effective interagency coordination, and for other purposes

· S. 2280, National Ocean Exploration Program Act

· Nominations

[SAEMike]

I composed my own request and sent it off to both Senators and my representative. I didn't see any ref to the House bill so the best I could do was make ref to the Senate bill.

I would imagine that they could care less about the issue. That makes it much easier to make your voice heard. They have people that basically run a tote board and make their decision on which side has the most requests.

Remember when you are writing to your Congressman or Senator, they aren't (or are rarely) reading your emails or letters. It is being read by a staffer (like me) who is a very important part of the office, and usually who is assigned to the particular bill or piece of legislation you are writing about. When staffers get a lot of email, they can do a great deal to influence the Congressman or Senator that they work for one way or another. One person writing in usually doesn't do a whole lot of good, you are right, but when we recieve a lot of letters or emails on a subject, the message gets heard, and sometimes, your elected officials are swayed.

[Geronimo]

Well said Mike!

[RichW]

Also, write it in your own words rather than using a stock form letter that others may be using. I think Mike will agree that form letters can be viewed with more suspicion of being orchestrated, where more weight is given to an original letter.