Satellite Television: Reauthorization of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA)Background and Key Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Jan. 5, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RS21768 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Marcia S. Smith, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
In November 2004, Congress passed the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization
Act
(SHVERA) as part of the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act ( H.R. 4818 , P.L.
108-447 ). SHVERA extends and expands upon provisions in the 1999 Satellite Home Viewer
Improvement Act (SHVIA) that regulate the satellite television (TV) industry. Among the more
controversial provisions were extension of a copyright law provision that allows TV companies to
provide "distant network signals" to subscribers who cannot receive broadcast
network television
signals via over-the-air television antennas, the creation of analogous "digital white
areas" as the TV
industry transitions to digital signals, and whether to require satellite companies to offer all local
network TV stations on a single dish. CRS Report RS21990(pdf) explains SHVERA's digital
white area
provisions in more detail. This is the final edition of this report.
