The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (SHVIA), a pro-competition law that lets Satellite TV companies carry local broadcast TV channels, must be reinstated before January 1 2010.  In this rare opportunity of period review, Congressman Bart Stupak (R-Michigan) proposed a bill requiring satellite providers to grant broadcast for local TV channels in all of their markets.  Apparently, two of the thirty satellite markets in his district do not get local channels.  Satellite coverage in the US comprises two hundred ten market areas.

Dish Network's CEO Charles Ergen reportedly told the House Subcommittee that they could go along with H.R. 927 The Satellite Consumers' Right to Local Channels Act -- provided they were given the “right incentives".

Direct TV VP Bob Gabrelli respectfully voices out that serving local television channels as H.R. 927 suggests may be the wrong approach in expanding broadcast service’ reach.  Requiring providers to serve the remaining local market allows everyone to watch local TV channels is actually anticompetitive for all players.

Gabrelli had said, “More people could also receive those signals if broadcasters themselves invested in the infrastructure to increase their own footprint so everyone in the market could receive a free over the air”.

Gabrelli hints that in doing so might put a financial burden on satellite subscribers.

Free-to-air broadcasts are available to the public. However, broadcast stations have generally weaker relay strength as opposed to satellite technology, and more people would receive those broadcasts if relayed by a satellite.

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