Broadcast television is free to consumers,who receive the signals via over-the-air (rooftop or "rabbit ear") antennas. The 1999 Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA) (2) extended andexpandedupon provisions of the 1988 Satellite Home Viewer Act (SHVA), as amended in 1994. Key Provisions of the 2004 Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA)

On November 20, 2004, Congress passed the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA), also known as the William J. 4818 , P.L. 108-447 ). H.R. SBCA and the Digital Transition Coalition (DTC) want "digital white areas" to be defined, similar tothe existing analog white areas, where satellite companies would beallowed to provide distant digital network signals to subscribers unable to receive local network digital signalsterrestrially. The details are explained in CRS Report RS21990(pdf) . Nonetheless, SHVERArequires satellite companies to offer all local channels on a single dish within 18 months of the law's enactment(except that digital TV service signals and non-digital TV service signalsmay be on separate dishes).
In November 2004, Congress passed the Satellite Home Viewer Extension andReauthorization Act (SHVERA) as part of the FY2005Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4818, P.L. 108-447). SHVERA extends and expands upon provisionsin the 1999 Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act(SHVIA) that regulate the satellite television (TV) industry. Among the more controversial provisions wereextension of a copyright law provision that allows TV companies to provide"distant network signals" to subscribers who cannot receive broadcast network television signals via over-the-airtelevision antennas, the creation of analogous "digital white areas" asthe TV industry transitions to digital signals, and whether to require satellite companies to offer all local networkTV stations on a single dish. CRS Report RS21990(pdf) explainsSHVERA's digital white area provisions in more detail. This is the final edition of this report.