How does the new law affect retransmission of noncommercial educational television station signals?
Many state public television networks, which by statute or charter have a mandate to serve their states’ citizens, have been unable to reach substantial portions of their intended audience by satellite television. In response, STELA explicitly permits the retransmission of “out-of-market” noncommercial educational television station signals that are part of a statewide system of three or more such signals to satellite subscribers located in a county in the state where subscribers would otherwise not be eligible to receive an in-state noncommercial educational station. Even though STELA adds this provision to section 122 (the local-into-local royalty-free license), satellite carriers must still pay royalties to retransmit such signals.
