[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14687-S14688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SATELLITE TELEVISION SERVICE

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of the 570,000 
satellite viewers in the State of Arkansas who would like to watch 
local news broadcasts over their satellite dishes. Since I began 
serving in the Senate in January, I have received more phone calls, 
letters, and postcards regarding satellite television service than 
about Federal spending, crime, health care, or many of the other 
important issues we have debated this year.
  Many constituents complained to me earlier this year after they lost 
some of their network signals due to a court order. Others have been 
worried they will lose part of their service by December 31. I have 
kept all of these constituents informed about developments with the 
bill that would let them keep their full satellite service.
  When we passed the bill--which most people refer to as the Satellite 
Home Viewer Act--by unanimous consent in May, I told my constituents 
their problems would soon be resolved. Then, as the summer days got 
shorter and the leaves began to fall, I told them to just be patient. I 
said, ``It will be just a few more weeks,'' because members of the 
conference committee had begun to meet.
  Now, as we rush to conclude the legislative session, my constituents, 
and millions of others across the country, are still waiting. I now 
share their anger with what they perceive as Washington interfering 
with their access to information and entertainment. I have been told 
there is only one Senator who is holding up the process of passing a 
bill that would permit satellite viewers to receive local network 
signals over their satellite dishes. This is especially frustrating 
considering the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a 
bill by a vote of 411-8.
  In my opinion, it is so unreal that those who stand in the way of 
this legislation would think that as we rush to finish the important 
task of funding the Federal Government, they can kill this bill in the 
11th hour and no one will notice. I am here to bear witness that people 
will notice. As many as 50 million people will notice because that is 
how many people risk losing part of their satellite service if we do 
not complete action on the satellite bill before the end of this 
session.
  The satellite TV conference report is the product of hard-fought and 
very extensive negotiation among conferees. The provision that one 
Senator has expressed concerns about is especially important for 
residents of rural States. The local broadcast signal provision in the 
satellite bill would create a loan

[[Page S14688]]

guarantee to bring local channels via satellite into small television 
markets. Without this loan guarantee, there is little chance that any 
corporation will make a business decision to launch a satellite that 
would enable it to beam local television signals into rural 
communities. Local broadcasters provide people with local news and 
vital details about storm warnings and school closings. People in rural 
communities need access to this information. They deserve no less.
  It is important to note that this loan guarantee will not cost the 
taxpayers 1 cent because a credit risk premium would cover any losses 
from default on the federally backed private loan.
  This rural provision should stay in the satellite bill, and we should 
vote on this bill in the light of day rather than sneaking a whittled-
down version into an omnibus package.
  I hold in my hand a letter signed by a bipartisan group of 24 
Senators urging the majority leader to file cloture on and proceed to 
the satellite bill. After we delivered the letter, five additional 
Senators called my office seeking to sign it. I understand that another 
letter supporting the rural provision may be circulating as I speak.
  Mr. President, I urge the majority leader to listen to the will of 
the people and to the majority of the Members of this body. Let us vote 
on this today.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, if I could take a moment to comment, I 
compliment Senator Lincoln for her comments. I totally agree with her. 
There was a long and difficult conference. It was the Intellectual 
Property Communication Omnibus Reform Act--a long and difficult 
conference. We had a lot of give and take. We had conferees from two 
Senate committees. It became a Rubik's Cube, where everybody had to 
give something. We got it through, and it passed. I believe my friend 
said the vote in the House was 411-8. In my little State, we have 
70,000 homes with satellite dishes that will be left dark if we don't 
get this. There are 12 million nationwide.
  I hope we can do this before we go out. The heavy lifting has already 
been done. It was done in the committee of conference. The 
distinguished Senator from Arkansas made very clear throughout that 
whole time the needs of her constituents, as have other Senators. I 
hope that whether they are sitting in a farmhouse in Vermont, a home in 
Arkansas, or anywhere else, if on New Year's Eve they want to watch the 
festivities by satellite, they can do that. I compliment the Senator.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon is recognized.

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