WASHINGTON – September 24, 2009- Earlier today, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Satellite Television Modernization Act of 2009. Larry Sidman, President and CEO of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) said, “We applaud Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Sessions and the entire committee for acting quickly and wisely on providing a much-needed legislative solution to allow state public television networks to reach all their state residents with important news and public affairs programming.”

The bill was introduced on September 15, 2009 by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, with Ranking Member Jeff Sessions and Senators Herb Kohl, Orrin Hatch and Jon Kyl as cosponsors. Among other things, the legislation removes, on a permissive basis, the legal obstacle that prevents Direct Broadcast Satellite providers from importing state public television network signals into in-state counties that are located in an out-of-state Designated Market Area.

Sidman concluded: “For the 35 percent of West Virginia residents, for example, who live in counties that are currently unable to receive West Virginia Public Broadcasting, this narrowly tailored legislative solution will create the framework under which these state residents will be able to receive important news, public affairs and educational programming from the state entity that they pay taxes to support.”