Contact: Lisa McCabe
202.349.3630
lmccabe@satellite.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Satellite Industry Continues to Fight for Fair Treatment of Satellite Consumers by Filing FCC Petition against Hazleton, Pennsylvania Ordinance

Washington, D.C., October 5, 2009 -- In its continuing efforts to support the satellite industry, the SBCA has filed a Joint Petition for Declaratory Ruling with the Federal Communications against a Satellite Dish Ordinance (Ordinance 2009-5) enacted earlier this year by the City of Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

The petition was filed jointly with Antenna Star Satellites, Inc. and Johnson TV & Satellite, companies providing satellite services in the Hazleton area. The Petition seeks a declaratory ruling from the FCC that pursuant to their Over-the-Air-Reception Device Rule.1 Among several violations SBCA addresses in the petition to the FCC, Hazleton’s ordinance requires satellite dish owners to obtain and pay $10.00 for a permit for inspection and installation of a satellite dish. This provision is similar to a provision that recently was contemplated by the Omaha, Nebraska City Council but abandoned due to concerns over violation of the FCC’s rule.

“The Hazleton ordinance violates federal law,” SBCA Executive Director Joe Widoff said. “It flies in the face of a very clear rule that prohibits the government from impairing the ability of people to install and use over-the-air reception devices.” Widoff added, “We are hopeful that the FCC will support our petition and declare Hazleton’s ordinance a violation, setting the way for satellite television’s continued competition against cable in the video services market in Pennsylvania and setting valuable precedent across the country.”

For more information on the FCC’s O Over-the-Air-Reception Device regulation go to www.satellite.org

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association is the national trade organization representing all segments of the consumer satellite industry. It is committed to creating value added programs to improve the long term growth and sustainability of our member companies while continuing the industry’s leadership in protecting the rights of consumers and technician to access the best in satellite delivered services. Additional information can be found at www.satellite.org.

1 See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000

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