Reps. Green (D-Tex.) and Pickering (R-Miss.) introduced legislati...
Reps. Green (D-Tex.) and Pickering (R-Miss.) introduced legislation designed to keep satellite radio from broadcasting local content. The Local Emergency Radio Service Preservation Act would “clarify” the obligation of digital radio broadcasters not to insert local content from their…
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ground-based repeaters. Also, the bill would require the FCC to examine whether XM Satellite Radio’s practice of distributing local content through its national channels was consistent with the FCC’s license to satellite radio. The FCC “licensed satellite radio to be a national only radio service,” Green said: “This bill will enforce the Commission’s original intent.” A news release from Green’s office said had XM announced it would offer local broadcasts through its national channels, after the company signed an agreement saying it wouldn’t use its ground-based repeaters for programming. “Over the past 19 months, satellite radio companies have been very evasive about their local programming plans,” Green said: “At first, they promised to provide national programming exclusively. Their actions since have demonstrated other intentions.” Green said the bill would ensure that satellite radio doesn’t “endanger the vital public service local radio broadcasters provide during emergencies.” NAB Pres. Edward Fritts said he supports the bill. “Localism is the hallmark of our free, over-the-air radio system, and this bill will ensure that satellite companies be held to the standard upon which their licenses were granted,” Fritts said. An XM spokesman said the legislation “seems unnecessary. The FCC has very clear rules and XM has followed the rules,” he said.