Direct Broadcast Satellite Carriage Of Digital Television Broadcast Signals
"The actions taken in this Order represent another step in the Commission’s
ongoing efforts to complete the transition from analog to digital television. In this Order, we amend the rules to require satellite carriers to carry digital-only stations upon request in markets in which they are providing any local-into-local service pursuant to the statutory copyright license,1 and to require carriage of all high definition (“HD”) signals in a market in which any station’s signals are carried in HD. In recognition of the capacity and technological constraints faced by satellite carriers, the latter requirement will be phased in over a four-year period. These decisions are consistent with Section 338 of the Act’s instructions that the Commission implement comparable, rather than identical, carriage rules between cable and direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”), and is supported by the record in this proceeding. As discussed below, this decision also addresses a carriage complaint and Application for Review filed by Station WHDT-DT, Stuart, Florida. The Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”) seeks comment on the application of the statutory requirement for nondiscriminatory treatment in carriage of standard definition."