Reauthorization of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004

Commercial broadcasters and satellite operators continue to spar over carriage issues, but noncommercial stations and those same providers say they may be near a carriage deal for high-definition and multicast channels.

The debate about which broadcast signals satellite operators can carry into each designated market area continued this week on Capitol Hill. Broadcasters want to keep a lid on signal importation from outside markets to protect incumbent stations.

In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee leadership, American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew Polka asked lawmakers to maintain regulatory parity between cable operators and satellite TV providers if Congress decides to adopt new broadcast carriage rules designed to expand choice and consumer access to state-related news, weather reports and other vital information.