I got a pretty good response from Senator Feinstein:
-----
July 27, 2006
<My name and address deleted>
Dear <my name>:
Thank you for writing to me about having to
choose between receiving local or distant network signals
due to the passage of the Satellite Home Viewer
Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA). I
appreciate hearing from my constituents on the issues
that affect them.
I understand that this must be inconvenient and
very frustrating for you, especially since you had been
able to receive both local and distant network signals
until now. I am sorry if this likelihood was not
thoroughly explained to you when you signed up for your
satellite service.
Congress initially created a "distant network
signal" license to allow satellite providers to retransmit
distant network signals to ensure that Americans who
were not able to receive an acceptable over-the-air local
network signal would have access to network
programming by satellite. In 1999, Congress added a
provision to the license to allow certain subscribers to
keep receiving distant network signals so long as the
satellite provider could demonstrate that their customer
was unable to receive a strong local signal.
With the satellite providers' rapid rollout of local-
into-local programming, that will soon be available in all
210 U.S. Television markets, the initial justification for
the 1999 provision was no longer necessary and this
provision was allowed to expire on December 31, 2004.
As a result, satellite subscribers must now choose
between local-into-local service or distant network
signals if local-into-local is not available in their area.
Again, I understand your frustration with this
situation. But networks and their local affiliates either
own or buy the license to the programming that they air,
and satellite providers cannot broadcast or retransmit
programming into a television market when it does not
have a license to do so.
If you should have any further questions, please
feel free to contact my Washington, DC staff at (202)
224-3841.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
http://feinstein.senate.gov
Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website
http://feinstein.senate.gov. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at
http://feinstein.senate.gov/issue.html.
-----
July 27, 2006
<My name and address deleted>
Dear <my name>:
Thank you for writing to me about having to
choose between receiving local or distant network signals
due to the passage of the Satellite Home Viewer
Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA). I
appreciate hearing from my constituents on the issues
that affect them.
I understand that this must be inconvenient and
very frustrating for you, especially since you had been
able to receive both local and distant network signals
until now. I am sorry if this likelihood was not
thoroughly explained to you when you signed up for your
satellite service.
Congress initially created a "distant network
signal" license to allow satellite providers to retransmit
distant network signals to ensure that Americans who
were not able to receive an acceptable over-the-air local
network signal would have access to network
programming by satellite. In 1999, Congress added a
provision to the license to allow certain subscribers to
keep receiving distant network signals so long as the
satellite provider could demonstrate that their customer
was unable to receive a strong local signal.
With the satellite providers' rapid rollout of local-
into-local programming, that will soon be available in all
210 U.S. Television markets, the initial justification for
the 1999 provision was no longer necessary and this
provision was allowed to expire on December 31, 2004.
As a result, satellite subscribers must now choose
between local-into-local service or distant network
signals if local-into-local is not available in their area.
Again, I understand your frustration with this
situation. But networks and their local affiliates either
own or buy the license to the programming that they air,
and satellite providers cannot broadcast or retransmit
programming into a television market when it does not
have a license to do so.
If you should have any further questions, please
feel free to contact my Washington, DC staff at (202)
224-3841.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
http://feinstein.senate.gov
Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website
http://feinstein.senate.gov. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at
http://feinstein.senate.gov/issue.html.
. Heck, I think I'm the only conservative left in the whole state.
