WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and John Thune (R-SD), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today issued the following statement following the Committee passage of the Satellite Television Access and Viewer Rights Act (STAVRA): 

“We are pleased that the committee today advanced the Satellite Television Access and Viewer Rights Act (STAVRA) that would ensure 1.5 million satellite pay TV subscribers maintain access to distant broadcast network television signals and would make several pro-consumer reforms to the nation’s video policy. It is always hard to find unanimity in the legislative process, but we think our bill is a strong, bipartisan consensus measure that we hope garners widespread support as it moves to the floor. Those 1.5 million Americans are dependent on Congress acting on the STELA reauthorization before the end of the year – something we hope our colleagues remember as STAVRA advances through the legislative process. And although Local Choice proved to be something that was too big and bold to be included in STAVRA due to the limited time we have, we are pleased that we were able to start a conversation about the proposal, a conversation which we intend to continue.”

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