Congress Extends SHVERA by 60 Days

Extension passed Dec. 19 allows satellite companies to continue importing distant network signals past Dec. 31

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/20/2009 10:05:09 PM

Congress has agreed to extend the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act by 60 days.

The extension was passed Dec. 19 as an amendment to the defense appropriations bill, which became a vehicle for several bills with deadlines, including the satellite extension.

The blanket license, which allows satellite companies to important distant network signals to viewers who can't receive a viewable version of their local affiliate, would have expired on Dec. 31.

Now, legislators will have more time to hammer out differences. Those include a deal to allow Dish Network back into the distant network signal business in exchange for delivering local TV station signals into all 210 TV markets.

There is also an amendment that would speed up the timetable for Dish to deliver noncommercial HD signals in local markets, which the satellite TV provider has said could interfere with the deal. The extension also gives Dish and noncoms a chance to come up with their own private carriage deal, which would moot the amendment.