FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News Media Contacts: June 8, 2000 Michelle Russo (202) 418-2358 Steven Adamske (202) 418-8221 FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON RULES FOR SATELLITE CARRIAGE OF BROADCAST SIGNALS Washington, DC The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching another proceeding to implement the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA), which was enacted on November 29, 1999. This action begins the rulemaking process for satellite carriage of local TV broadcast signals. The FCC has a statutory deadline of November 29, 2000 to adopt the rules and, per the Act, the rules will take effect on January 1, 2002. SHVIA generally seeks to place satellite carriers on an equal footing with local cable television operators when it comes to the availability of broadcast programming, and thus gives consumers more and better choices in selecting a multichannel video program distributor service (MVPD), such as cable or satellite service. In SHVIA, Congress indicated that the carriage rules for satellite should be "comparable" to those for cable companies. In its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC notes that it must recognize the technological and regulatory differences between cable and satellite when implementing the rules. Satellite companies have a choice as to whether they will be subject to the forthcoming mandatory carriage rules. SHVIA requires that if satellite carriers provide their subscribers with the signals of at least one local TV station under the statutory copyright license, they will have the obligation to carry all of the TV signals in that particular market that request carriage. Satellite carriers that license programming at the source, and do not take advantage of the copyright license, will not have the obligation to carry all TV signals in a particular market. The FCC is seeking comment on a wide range of topics including: carriage obligations and definitions; market definitions; delivery of a good quality signal; duplicating signals; channel positioning; content to be carried; material degradation; digital television obligations; compensation for carriage; and remedies for carriage violations. Action by the Commission, May 31, 2000, by Notice of Proposed Rule Making (FCC 00- 195). Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and Tristani. Comments due: July 7, 2000 Reply comments due: July 28, 2000 Cable Services Bureau Contact for this NPRM: Ben Golant at (202) 418-7111 CS Docket No. 00-96 -FCC-