Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010
Encyclopedia
The Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 or STELA is one of the acts of the 111th United States Congress
. It renewed the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004, which governs the retransmission of broadcast television content by satellite companies. The act renewed statutory licenses that allow satellite TV companies to retransmit broadcast stations to their customers for five years. The licenses had been set to expire at the end of May, and the bill also included measures to modernize and simplify licensing processes and encourage satellite providers to make more local content available.
The bill was initially sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller
, a Democrat
from West Virginia
, and co-sponsored by Sen. John Kerry
, a Massachusetts
Democrat. It cleared the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in November 2009. It was reintroduced as , this time by Sen. Pat Leahy
of Vermont, on May 7, 2010, and passed the same day. On May 12, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010.
Acts of the 111th United States Congress
The acts of the 111th United States Congress include all laws enacted and treaties ratified by the 111th United States Congress, which lasted from January 3, 2009 to January 3, 2011. Such acts include public and private laws, which were enacted after being passed by Congress and signed by the...
. It renewed the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004, which governs the retransmission of broadcast television content by satellite companies. The act renewed statutory licenses that allow satellite TV companies to retransmit broadcast stations to their customers for five years. The licenses had been set to expire at the end of May, and the bill also included measures to modernize and simplify licensing processes and encourage satellite providers to make more local content available.
The bill was initially sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller
Jay Rockefeller
John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV is the senior United States Senator from West Virginia. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984, while in office as Governor of West Virginia, a position he held from 1977 to 1985...
, a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, and co-sponsored by Sen. John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, a Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Democrat. It cleared the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in November 2009. It was reintroduced as , this time by Sen. Pat Leahy
Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph Leahy is the senior United States Senator from Vermont and member of the Democratic Party. He is the first and only elected Democratic United States Senator in Vermont's history. He is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy is the second most senior U.S. Senator,...
of Vermont, on May 7, 2010, and passed the same day. On May 12, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010.