FCC Appoints ARRL in Home Satellite Act

ARRL TO HAVE SATELLITE HOME VIEWER IMPROVEMENT ACT ROLE

The FCC has assigned the ARRL a role under the new Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act. The FCC has designated the League to appoint a party to conduct a signal strength test at a subscriber's household in the event of a dispute between network stations and satellite carriers over who should carry out the testing.

"It's a service we're glad to provide to the public," said ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP. Haynie said the League is pleased to be called upon to play a part in implementing the consumer-oriented legislation. He added that few eligibility disputes are anticipated.

FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Dale Hatfield expressed the Commission's appreciation for serving as "an independent and neutral entity." Hatfield called the ARRL "a particularly appropriate choice for this role because it has no commercial connection with delivery of television services."

Under SHVIA, a household is eligible to get distant TV signals via satellite if it cannot receive a Grade B signal using a conventional, outdoor TV antenna, but viewers can apply for waivers. The SHVIA provides that if a waiver is denied, a consumer can request a signal test to determine the actual signal strength received. The ARRL's could be called upon to select an appropriate entity to take the measurement in rare instances when the satellite provider and the network station cannot agree on one.

Hatfield said the ARRL would review the qualifications of proposed testing entities to determine their competence to take signal strength measurements at a given home site. He said the League also eventually may develop a list of qualified individuals or concerns to conduct such tests throughout the US and offer that list to satellite providers and broadcasters "as needed and appropriate."

For more information, contact ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, cimlay@arrl.org.

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