[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S6276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE SATELLITE HOME VIEWERS ACT

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I welcome this opportunity to express my 
strong support for S. 303, the Satellite Home Viewers Act. This 
legislation will enable many more consumers in Massachusetts and across 
the nation to receive network signals by satellite.
  The Act achieves a fairer balance between the interests of satellite 
TV firms, local broadcasters and cable firms. It reverses a federal 
court decision that has caused millions of satellite TV subscribers 
throughout the country, including in many rural areas of Massachusetts, 
to lose their access to network television stations. Consumers will be 
major winners with the passage of this legislation. It means greater 
choice, particularly to those in rural areas.
  This legislation will also promote competition between the satellite 
and cable industries by enabling satellite providers to offer local 
broadcast signals in the same local market. In recent years, ``must 
carry'' rules have protected small broadcasters from being left by the 
wayside during the rapid growth of the cable industry. Similarly, this 
bill protects small broadcasters by requiring satellite carriers re-
transmitting local signals to the local market to comply with the 
``must carry'' rules by January 1, 2002.
  Consumers everywhere will benefit from the passage of the Satellite 
Home Viewers Act. I commend Senator McCain and Senator Burns for their 
leadership in providing more choices and better service to consumers.

                          ____________________