The latest development with STELA (the new acronym) is the Senate draft will allow Dish to offer Distant Nets as it did before. However, other drafts allow Dish to only import from neighboring DMA's but not Distant Nets. The Senate draft also drops the requirement for satellite to provide all LIL's in all DMA's by 2012. Meanwhile a House bill would require all LIL's in all DMA's by 2012 in exchange for Dish being allowed to provide out of market locals. Then there is a House requirement for satellite to provide all HD Public TV LIL's by 2012, which Dish says it cannot do until a new satellite is launched the following year. And satellite is being allowed the same licensing structure in the STELA for programming, pretty much a sure thing now, and a big win for satellite.
In fact, there are several drafts in both the House and Senate that must be reconciled. Right now, it is pretty much anybody's guess as to what the final STELA will require and allow. Both Direc TV and Dish are lobbying very hard on STELA. I believe something MUST be done quickly because SHIVRA expires at the end of this year. However, if they can't get STELA to a vote this year, Congress can vote to extend SHIVRA for one more year, then resume work on STELA for passage in the new year of 2010.
