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Bill Would Prevent Use of Terrestrial Repeaters for Localized Satellite Radio

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 2, 2005 - 7:48am.
Washington -- A bill has been introduced in the U.S. House that would codify an agreement between radio stations and satellite radio providers, under which satellite radio firms XM and Sirius are prohibited from using their ground-based repeater transmitters to broadcast localized radio content. Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS), a vice chairman on the House Commerce Committee, introduced the Local Emergency Radio Service Preservation Act of 2005. The bill would prevent XM and Sirius, which already offer local traffic and weather data to subscribers, from using their ground-based transmitters to offer 'local' channels that change depending on where one is in the country. It would also instruct the FCC to study the impact on local broadcasters of local weather and traffic offered on satellite radio. "I believe in a diverse media with local, community voice," said Pickering. "I also subscribe to satellite radio for national media and programming. This legislation would ensure consumers continue to have access to both radio types, and our communities continue to receive the emergency services of local broadcasters."
tags: Bill | Terrestrial Repeaters | Localized Satellite Radio |