Ed Markey: “Mr. Speaker, this satellite revolution is something that is changing the very face of the video marketplace in the…”

“Mr. Speaker, this satellite revolution is something that is changing the very face of the video marketplace in the United States. Back in 1992 when we passed the programming access provision, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) and I and others were out here on the floor arguing that if we passed that that we would create a revolution, create an 18-inch dish that one could buy and put out between the petunias and bring down hundreds of television stations; and through the years now we have seen this revolution change how suburban and urban America relate to their cable companies. This legislation is directed towards the last remaining pocket of resistance, that is, rural America. It is meant to remedy a problem that we think that we dealt with last year when we made it possible for urban and suburban television stations to beam up their local TV stations and then beam them right back down into the same marketplace. That is more difficult in rural America. It is wise for us to look at this digital divide to make sure that rural America is taken care of.”