Bill to let Hardin County get Nashville TV networks passes

Dec. 4– A major step toward providing many Hardin County residents a greater choice of network programming options has been taken.

Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Satellite Home Viewer Reauthorization Act. The act includes language that Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has long advocated – addressing local programming broadcast via satellite.

The issue is a safety concern to rural Tennessee, where many residents do not have access to local programming over the air and thus cannot receive urgent public safety information.

The matter came to a head in Hardin County a year ago when Charter Cable dropped the Nashville broadcast networks from its lineup, saying they largely duplicated NBC, CBS and other programming from Memphis.

The Satellite Home Reauthorization Act will not restore the Nashville channels to the Charter Cable lineup.

It removes restrictions which have kept satellite providers from offering local networks to customers in much of Hardin County. Instead, those customers could receive only distant networks such as New York.

By correcting the "Grade B Bleed" issue and expanding the definition of "unserved areas," residents in the Jackson Designated Market Area, will be eligible to receive a distant signal from either Memphis or Nashville.

Speaking about the bill, Congressman Blackburn said, "To me, this is a vital public safety issue. Two years ago, devastating tornadoes swept through rural Middle and West Tennessee. By expanding the local programming options for Tennesseans who only have access to satellite broadcasts, we expand the reach of important public safety announcements like tornado warnings."

Noting that further legislative action is needed before the bill can go into effect, she said, "This is an important correction to the statute and I urge the Senate to pass companion legislation quickly."

Claude Chafin, Blackburn’s communications director, said he hopes to see the Senate move on the issue by the end of the month.