Washington, DC: Today, Congressman Bob Goodlatte announced that DirecTV, a satellite television provider, will begin to provide local television stations to consumers in the Harrisonburg, Virginia television viewing area, which includes Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, as well as Augusta and Rockingham Counties.  The service is scheduled to begin on January 16, 2008.

“I have been working very closely with DirecTV for years now to bring local television stations via satellite to consumers in this market,” Goodlatte said.  “I am extremely pleased to announce DirecTV’s decision to bring local channels to consumers here.  Finally, consumers in these rural areas – often beyond the reach of cable lines – will have access to local programming and emergency news and information via satellite.”

“WVPT is excited to now be seen by many viewers in Harrisonburg and the surrounding area, who as DirecTV subscribers have missed this local connection of the Public Television program services we provide,” said David Mullins, President and General Manager of WVPT-TV.

“We are so happy to FINALLY be available by satellite,” said Tracy Jones, Vice President and General Manager of WHSV-TV3.  “We have been working for years with Congressman Goodlatte's office to try to coax the process along so that people in the Valley could have access to local news.  Now homes in Rockingham, Augusta and Pendleton Counties will get 4 local stations (TV3 ABC, The Valley's FOX, My Valley and WVPT-PBS) -- almost worth the wait.”

DirecTV’s launch will include all television stations that originate in the Harrisonburg viewing area, including the local ABC and FOX affiliates and the local public broadcasting stations. 

Before 1999, satellite television providers like DirecTV and DISH Network were not allowed to retransmit local television channels over satellite.  Congressman Goodlatte was instrumental in getting the landmark law passed that allowed satellite companies to provide local channels.  Congressman Goodlatte also authored a bill to provide loan guarantees to satellite companies who provide this local service, which was signed into law, and he has continued to encourage the rollout of more local television channels via satellite through numerous pieces of legislation since that time.