On October 7, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet held a hearing on the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA) reauthorizing legislation. Paul Karpowicz, chairman of the NAB Television Board and president of Meredith Corporation, testified on behalf of the television industry. In his testimony, Mr. Karpowicz highlighted the distinction between local community-oriented broadcasters and large cable and satellite companies and emphasized the vital role that broadcasters play in providing communities with critical local news, weather, emergency information and public affairs programming.

Additionally, Mr. Karpowicz gave examples of how the digital television transition (DTV) has enabled broadcasters to offer more programming choices to consumers and why satellite operators should make that programming available to their customers. The hearing also touched on a range of issues of importance to television broadcasters, including whether or not television markets should be modified so that viewers can watch in-state but out of market programming; whether satellite companies should be required to deliver local programming in each of the 210 television markets; what antenna standard should be applied when determining whether or not a viewer can receive a quality signal over the air and many other issues related to satellite carriage of PBS programming.Click here to read a copy of Mr. Karpowicz's oral testimony. To watch the video archive of this testimony, visit the Commerce Committee Web site, and go to the "Committee Schedule" section.

Also testifying at the hearing were Robert Gabrielli, senior vice president for Programming and Distribution, DIRECTV, Stanton R. Dodge, executive vice president, secretary and general counsel, DISH Network and Bill Acker, director, Broadcasting and Technology, West Virginia Public Broadcasting.