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http://www.tvpredictions.com/echodistant111706.htm

Two senators sponsor a bill to prevent the shut-off, but little time is left in the session.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (November 17, 2006) -- Two U.S. senators have introduced legislation to prevent EchoStar's Dish Network from being forced to turn off 'distant' High-Definition TV signals to its subscribers.

A federal judge ruled last month that EchoStar must stop sending distant network signals to 800,000 subscribers. The ruling, which becomes effective on December 1, covers high-def signals as well as standard definition feeds. Signals from CBS, ABC, Fox and NBC are affected.

Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Wayne Allard (R-CO) offered a bill yesterday to "ensure that certain eligible EchoStar DISH Network customers that are able to receive distant network signals under current law will continue to receive them."

The senators asked Congress to act immediately on the bill, but that appears unlikely. Lawmakers are scheduled to begin a Thanksgiving recess today and will not return until December 5. In addition, the current congressional session is scheduled to expire at year's end.

Realizing that federal relief may be delayed, EchoStar announced a few weeks ago that it had begun turning some distant signals off. The satcaster asked Congress for help.

At issue is EchoStar's practice of providing "distant" network signals to subscribers who say they can't get their local networks by other means, such as an off-air antenna. The satellite service offers feeds from network affiliates in New York and Los Angeles to those customers.

However, local stations have objected, saying their ratings are hurt when viewers watch the "distant" signals instead of theirs. EchoStar earlier this year agreed to a $100 million settlement with affiliates of NBC, ABC and CBS, but Fox rejected the deal.

Ergen told the web site that subscribers in Pennsylvania, Vermont, Arkansas, Hawaii, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oregon, Montana and Utah "will be most affected by this shutoff."

The Leahy-Allard bill would block the court's action and possibly re-open negotiations between EchoStar and Fox.

"Without distant signals, many satellite subscribers around the country will not be able to watch a network affiliate, which is a primary source of news, sports and entertainment for many," said Allard who represents the Colorado-based EchoStar.

However, the National Association of Broadcasters, who has opposed EchoStar, called the Leahy-Allard bill "a bailout by Congress of a habitual copyright infringer that has skimmed millions of dollars infringing copyrights and violating the law on a nationwide basis for eight years or more."

The NAB said EchoStar customers who lose the distant signals can still watch network programming via an off-air antenna or another TV provider, such as cable or DIRECTV.