[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 116 (Wednesday, July 23, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   STELA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. ADRIAN SMITH

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2014

  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose suspending 
the rules to pass H.R. 4572, the STELA Reauthorization Act.
  In many rural areas--including large portions of my district--
satellite television carriage of local stations is one of the only 
sources for up-to-the-minute news and weather. It is vital we maintain 
this link.
  Currently, a number of counties in Nebraska are assigned to 
designated market areas based in another state. Consumers within these 
``orphan'' counties, such as Cherry County, are unable to receive local 
broadcast programming from within the State of Nebraska.
  While H.R. 4572 makes improvements to existing law, this satellite 
reauthorization is another missed opportunity to address the needs of 
orphan county consumers who wish to receive in-state broadcast 
programming over satellite. I am disappointed the STELA Reauthorization 
Act was again considered under suspension of the rules, whereby no 
member was able to address this issue on the floor through the 
amendment process.
  It was my hope the House would consider satellite reauthorization 
under a rule which allowed us to consider proposals like H.R. 4635, the 
Orphan County Telecommunications Rights Act, of which I am a cosponsor. 
Under this legislation, orphan counties could petition the FCC to 
modify which channels are considered to be part of their local DMA.
  Unfortunately, the current system for determining DMAs forces some of 
my constituents in Nebraska to watch local broadcast programming from 
cities in Colorado or South Dakota which are often hundreds of miles 
away.
  I understand STELA must be reauthorized by the end of this year to 
ensure satellite television viewers have continued access to local 
stations. However, because I believe the STELA Reauthorization Act 
should have been brought up under a rule to enable us the opportunity 
to consider needed changes to the bill for my constituents, I would 
have opposed the motion to suspend the rules had a recorded vote been 
called.

                          ____________________