WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) has introduced legislation to require satellite television providers to carry local television broadcasts in all 210 Designated Market Areas (DMAs) within one year of enactment.  H.R. 927, the Satellite Consumers’ Right to Local Channels Act, would ensure consumers in rural markets – where a large percentage of homes are served by satellite – have access to local channels.

“I have been asking the satellite companies for years to fulfill their commitment to the public by expanding local service to all markets,” Stupak said.  “With the upcoming transition to digital television, and the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act up for reauthorization this year, there has never been a better opportunity to act.”

In order for a consumer to receive local television stations through a satellite provider, the satellite company must offer local-into-local service in the customer’s media market.  Current law allows satellite companies to offer this service but does not require it, which has resulted in satellite providers targeting urban and suburban markets while largely ignoring smaller rural markets.  Without local-into-local service, satellite customers must rely on traditional “rabbit ear” or rooftop antennas to receive local broadcast signals.

Thirty-one of the nation’s 210 DMAs, representing 2.6 million households, are not currently provided local broadcasts by either of the nation’s two satellite television providers.  The Marquette and Alpena markets – both located entirely in Michigan’s 1^st Congressional District – are among the 31 markets that remain unserved.

Providing access to local channels in all 210 DMAs is beneficial to the public.  Congress already requires the cable industry to carry local channels.  In 2003, when arguing in favor of acquiring DirecTV, News Corporation pledged to roll-out by 2006 and no later than 2008 full local-into-local service in all 210 DMAs. 

“Unfortunately, without a hard date established in satellite law, this pledge has gone unfulfilled and Americans living in small media markets have been and will continue to be ignored,” Stupak said.  “Without their local channels, millions of rural Americans are denied access to critical emergency alerts and local content such as sporting events and news broadcasts.”

Stupak is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, to which H.R. 927 has been referred.  The bill is endorsed by the Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New York and Oregon Associations of Broadcasters.