• Broadcasting & Cable, Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:13 PM

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) is preparing an amendment to the Senate Commerce Committee version of the satellite reauthorization bill that would mandate local TV station service to all 210 markets by satellite carriers EchoStar and DirecTV. It differs from the House version, which says EchoStar has to deliver local signals in remaining markets if it wants back in the distant-signal business.

The McCaskill amendment, would charge the FCC with checking up on the progress of local into local in six months after passage, and every six months until the FCC has determined that all satellite carriers comply.

The Senate Commerce version is scheduled to be marked up in the committee Nov. 19.The bill reauthorizes satellite operators' license to import distant network signals to markets that lack a viewable version of their own local affiliate.

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