旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � "The World's Most Important Publication!" � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � 같같겨 같� 같같같� 같� 같� 같같같� 같같같� 같]같겨 같같같� 같같같� 같같같� � � 같幡煞� 같� 같幡賽� 같� 같� 같幡賽� 같幡賽� 煞겡賽 같幡賽� 같幡같� 같幡같� � � 같� 겡 같� 같같같� 같같같� 같� 같같� 같� 같같� 같같겡� 같같같� � � 같� 겡 같� 賽煞겡 같幡같� 같� 같幡� 같� 같幡� 같幡같� 같幡같� � � 같같겡� 같� 같같같� 같� 같� 같같같� 같같같� 같� 같같같� 같� 같� 같� 같� � � 賽賽� 賽 賽賽賽 賽 賽 賽賽賽 賽賽賽 賽 賽賽賽 賽 賽 賽 賽 � � (C)Copyright 1993 By Dolan & Associates - All Rights Reserved � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � THE SATELLITE TV INDUSTRY ONLINE MAGAZINE � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � Volume 5 - Issue # 06 Price:$2.95 April 1, 1993 � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � DISHCETERA Satellite TV Magazine, DISHCETERA - The Satellite TV Online � � Magazine, and DISHNEWS are (C)Copyrighted 1993 Dolan & Associates, Box 189 � � Bellaire, Texas 77402. All rights reserved. Subscription price is $25.per � � year pre-payment in advance in U.S. funds only. Send all subscriptions to � � DISHCETERA, Box 189, Bellaire, Texas 77402. � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� THIS MONTH'S TOP SATELLITE NEWS STORIES --------------------------------------- THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION LOWERS THE BOOM ON CABLE UNITED STATES SATELLITE BROADCASTING ANNOUNCES SOME PROGRAM AGREEMENTS WHAT DO THE NEW FCC RULES SAY AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN TO YOU THINGS ARE REALLY DULL IN FLORIDA - POLICE INVESTIGATE CABLE TV SHOW GENERAL INSTRUMENTS COMPLETES STOCK SALE - PAYS EXECUTIVES MILLIONS WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE HOME DISH SKY'S THIS MONTH - THE NEWS 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION LOWERS THE BOOM ON CABLE � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� The entire cable industry was praying that all that money they had spent on re-election campaigns would bring some pressure upon the FCC to not do their job and would hopefully cause the FCC to adopt some "dummy" cable tv rules. Well, folks, it didn't happen quite that way. Instead, the FCC jumped on them with both feet. Of course, it won't be over until the expected legal challenges are over, but at least the "beginning" is over. A couple of weeks ago the FCC told cable operators they were going to have start answering their phones within thirty seconds. The very idea that they should be made to answer their phones like other public service companies caused anger throughout the cable industry and complaints that it wasn't any of the FCC's business. Now, the FCC has frozen the existing rates. And, the rates are frozen at the same place they were back in October of last year when the legislation passed. If a cable company raised it's rates since that time, the rates are now rolled-back to their previous levels. Needless to say, the cable guys are really screaming foul now, claiming that the FCC has no authority to tell them what the rates should or shouldn't be. Which is true. The FCC doesn't have that authority but Congress does or thinks it does, and directed the FCC to follow the Congressional mandates set forth in the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992. The FCC is just doing their job. The FCC can also order that the "rolled-back" rates be decreased as much as 10% more if the Commission finds that the rates are still to high. There is a "gotcha" to this rate roll-back. If a particular cable system has received a franchise that allows it to charge higher rates than those determined by the Commission, then those rates shall prevail. Many cable systems have recently received renewed franchises that granted higher rates based on the system's promise to upgrade it's system. In these cases, the cable system can continue charging those higher rates. It will now be up to the local franchising authority to ensure that the system follows-thru with the promised system upgrading. This provision may turn out to be a huge loophole that many cable systems slip through. It may also signal the beginning of much new litigation on the local level to force cable operators to comply. James P. Mooney, president of the National Cable Television Association, said,"he was appalled. At minimum, it appears that these rules will make it very difficult for us to satisfy the expectations of our subscribers." Let's see, they've had since 1984 to "satisfy the expectations" of the subscribers. That's the reason the cable bill passed - they didn't do what they said they were going to do. Now, the FCC will give them a little "push" to get things started. The rules the FCC is putting into place are exactly what is called for in the legislation - pro consumer and pro-competition - and the FCC isn't finished yet. They're just getting started. Later this summer, the FCC will begin taking complaints about pricing of additional levels of service or "tiers" as they are called in the industry. In an effort to circumvent the FCC's rate regulation authority, many cable systems hurriedly moved all of the most popular cable channels from the basic level of service, to some more expensive tier. The FCC will examine these "tiers" of service and determine the price-per- channel to be charged based upon the price-per-service that the cable system pays for the various channels. After deciding this, the FCC will place a "price cap" on the system's rate for this "tier" of service. At that time, the cable system will be instructed to roll-back it's rates. The FCC will also order the cable systems to issue refunds to subscribers where the systems are found to have been over-charging. None of this will happen overnight, it's going to take a while to get all of the new regulations in place and it will take some time for the FCC to make it's determination on pricing. However, it WILL happen. NO! This "ain't no April Fool's joke either. Usually, National Cable Month begins on April 1st and for one whole month, the entire cable industry makes a concerted effort to actually have a full month's worth of programming. One month out of twelve isn't bad, at least that's what they think. We all know it's just a really bad joke. This year, the joke's on THEM! Ha! Ha! Ha! 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � UNITED STATES SATELLITE BROADCASTING ANNOUNCES SOME PROGRAM AGREEMENTS � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Unlike SkyPix who never actually had any agreements for programming, the Hubbard direct-to-home satellite broadcasting venture which plans to launch sometime next year, has made the announcement that HBO Satellite Networks and Viacom Satellite Networks will be onboard. That means if you choose to go with USSB, you can access HBO, CINEMAX, COMEDY CENTRAL, E!, SHOWTIME, MOVIE CHANNEL, FLIX, MTV, VH-1, and NICKELODEON. According to a report in MultiChannel News, Viacom indicated their services wouldn't be seen as part of any other dbs programming package. What that means in simple terms, is that if you want any of their services you'll have to sign-up with USSB. The press releases don't say that the USSB agreement is "exclusive" but they very well might be. Where does this announcement leave the Rural Telecommunications Coop and their dbs venture that has only signed with Disney? D.O.A. If they can't get these same channels to join with them, then they're history! If you can't offer HBO and SHOWTIME you're out of business before you start. So far, the R.T.C. isn't saying too much so we'll have to wait and see if they have some talks going-on behind the scenes and maybe the have some old Disney magic we haven't heard about yet. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � WHAT DO THE NEW FCC RULES SAY AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN TO YOU � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� >>> Beginning immediately, cable subscribers MUST be notified at least 30 days before the cable system moves, drops, replaces, or re-arranges any of your local television stations. >>> Beginning immediately, cable operators will have to tell broadcast stations who is qualified to be carried and who isn't and broadcast stations can begin to make their case for being carried on a particular channel. Disputes by and between both parties over each other's decisions should be settled by early fall. Stations that must be carried, must be notified within 30 days and the stations that must be carried have a little more than a month to decide IF they really "must be carried". In this case, must carry doesn't necessarily mean they must BE carried. In THIS case, the FCC rules allow the local broadcast stations that qualify to be a "must carry" station to decide their status. The local broadcast stations [that qualify] are given a choice. They may elect to be a "must carry" station and in doing so, get preferred treatment in their channel positioning on the cable system. What this means is that a tv station with a high channel number, channel 39 for example, could choose to be carried on 39 or on a much lower channel such as channel 4 or channel 6. Lower channel positions are preferred because on most cable systems, the lower channel positions can be received on tvs and vcrs without having to rent expensive set-top convertors. The FCC will also be setting the rates that can be charged for extra stuff such as set-top convertors but these rules aren't available yet. In most cases, the tv stations like to be placed on the same cable channel as their actual FCC channel designation. [ie. channel 2 likes to be on cable channel 2 - it makes it much easier for viewers to find them. It gets real complicated when a cable system places channel 4 on channel 47 or something like that. Viewers have trouble finding and remembering where they are and it costs the stations lots of money promoting themselves as some weird cable channel number, as well as, their regular channel number.] So, if the station qualifies as a "must carry" they can elect to be a "must carry" and get preferred channel positioning. However, they could choose the "retransmission consent" option instead. Retransmission consent simply means that the cable system has to work-out a programming carriage contract with the broadcast station. It could mean that a cable system would have to pay to carry the channel or it could mean that their contract would guarantee the broadcast station a particular cable channel for a specified number of years. A retransmission agreement could consist of other terms and conditions too as it is agreed upon only between the station and the cable system. The cable system could also decide NOT to carry the broadcast station if they selected the retransmission consent option. The stations and the cable systems have 60 days to work out a suitable arrangement. It should be noted here, that SMATV systems, MMDS, and any other providers of multichannel programming services, except the local telephone company, will also have to have re-transmission consent before they can continue carrying the local broadcast stations. The "must-carry" section does not apply to these other technologies. >>> Within 90 days, cable systems must answer subscriber calls within thirty seconds and have at least one phone that is answered 24 hours a day. The FCC has also "grandfathered" all existing cable tv franchise customer service standards into this new rule. This allows the local franchising authority to regulate and decide on customer service standards for their area. >>> Within the first year unless a cable system can demonstrate significant reasons why they shouldn't, cable subscribers MUST be allowed to buy the premimum services offered by the cable system without having to purchase any other additional tiers of service or other premium channels first. This means if you subscribe to basic cable, you must be able to order Showtime, Disney, etc. on an ala carte basis without first purchasing HBO or a sports channel, or some other level of additional services. >>> Cable systems also cannot charge a higher price for ala carte services just because you don't purchase some other level of service. If they charge $7. for Disney with basic and expanded basic and their superstation tier of services, they can't charge basic-only subscribers $12. for Disney. If the cable system is already addressable, then these rules go into effect immediately. >>> Cable systems will now be allowed and required to block, the transmission of any indecent programming carried on their leased access channels. Any user of a leased access channel must notify the cable operator of his intention to transmit such material and the cable system must the scramble or block the programming so as to restrict it's reception from all households who have not specifically requested to receive it. You must make a written request that such programming be "un-blocked" and the cable system has thirty days to make it available to you - the rules take effect in thirty days. >>> The cable company cannot come and rip out their wiring when you decide to disconnect from the cable without first offering to sell you the wiring. These rules to apply to all cable subscribers, no matter how long you have had cable. None of the money you have paid the cable system over the length of your subscription is applied to the cost of the wiring. And, the cable system may charge you the current local price per foot for the wiring. You have thirty days after they disconnect the service to make your decision and after that, the wiring is yours if you refused to pay and they didn't come and take it out. They also cannot charge you to take the wiring out and if they leave it or you buy it, it is yours to do whatever you want with it. These rules take effect immediately. There are also new rules dealing with programming access but I don't have them yet. In this area, we are experiencing an avalanche of multiple junk-fax calls from these automated junk-fax calling machines and my fax machine simply ran out of paper. Otherwise, I would have this and I apologize. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � THINGS ARE REALLY DULL IN FLORIDA - POLICE INVESTIGATE CABLE TV SHOW � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Yes, things are so dull in Florida that the Tampa Police Department is actually investigating a cable tv public access show for possible obscenity violations. It seems that one of Jones Intercable's public access channels, aired a program at 11 PM on March 3, that had a least one viewer somewhat upset. The weekly public access program, Morbid Underground, aired a tape of something called Toilet Rockers [I think they're a "band" ?] which "featured" a nude rock singer defecating and unrinating on stage. While Hillsbourough County has an ordinace that prohibits nudity on television until after 10 PM [I told you it was dull there!] and the Tampa Police Department said the performance was "disgusting", they also say there's very little they can do about this sort of thing. In order for the material to be judged obscene, it must appeal to prurient interest in sex, it must be patently offensive, and have no serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value; this to be determined by a reasonable person of the community. Or... you'll know it when you see it! The American Family Association chapter in Florida has urged cable viewers to file complaints. So far, there haven't been any. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � GENERAL INSTRUMENTS COMPLETES STOCK SALE - PAYS EXECUTIVES MILLIONS � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� I know home dish owners will see the humor in this. General Instruments just sold $300 million dollars worth of their stock. Some of the money raised thru this stock offering will go to pay-off company executives who purchased GI stock a couple of years ago for around $3. a share. The stock is now selling for around $30. James Bunker, president of the Videocipher division received $1.1 million, Chairman Donald Rumsfeld received $6.9 million, Frank Drendel $7.5 million, and Hal Krisbergh $1.1 million dollars. Forstmann, Little, & Company bought General Instruments in August of 1990 for $1.5 billion dollars and has now recovered ALL of their investment plus an additional $76 million dollars for their trouble. Who said crime doesn't pay? 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE HOME DISH SKY THIS MONTH � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� As usual, at lot of folks are moving or have just finished moving. Here's the current update: Spacenet 2 at 69 degrees west, seems to be the bird of choice for new Spanish langauge services. Joining SUR [Sistema de Retransmissione], ECO GALAVISION, two TELEMUNDO channels, and E.S.P.N. Pan-American are: GEMS TV, a a service designed for Hispanic women which plans an April 1st start-up up on transponder 24, and CANAL de NOTICIAS, which is NBC's 24 hour news channel in Spanish. It is already in operation on transponder #5. CHANNEL AMERICA, that used to be on transponder #5 has joined SCOLA and MIDWEST SPORTS CHANNEL over on ASC1. SCOLA will be moving to Telstar 401 after its July launch. At that time, SCOLA plans to begin using Digicipher to compress their signal and offer additional channels of programming. PBS will also be moving to Telstar 401 later this year and will also begin using Digicipher to compress their signals. There is a rumor circulating that PBS "plans" to provide an unscrambled and un-compressed feed somewhere on C-band after the move takes place. After quite a few expensive telephone calls to PBS, I was able to confirm that they have NO "plans" but didn't rule-out the possibility of a C-band feed if it was, their quote, "necessary." THE NOSTALGIA CHANNEL has completed its move to Galaxy 1 #22 from Satcom F4 and RTP has moved from Spacenet 3 #24 to Galaxy 3 #5. RTP carries programming from various South American countries and now transmits using the videocipher 2 plus encryption method. I have no idea how much a subscription to this is but SUR is now available thru several packagers for $130. a year. Those same packagers probably will carry RTP. RTP is now in "fixed" key so that everyone who owns a videocipher 2 plus and subscribes to at least one service, can view their signal. EMPIRE SPORTS NETWORK has also moved to Galaxy 3. They are located on transponder #2 where the FOX CABLE NETWORK used to be. Fox is now on Satcom C1 #19. KEYSTONE INSPIRATIONAL NETWORK, which usually airs old B&W movies in the morning and Robert Tilton later in the day, is on Galaxy 3 #1. SHOWTIME2 has finished its move to Galaxy 1 transponder 16 while FLIX has moved to Galaxy 1 transponder 10. For a short while, the FLIX signal can also be found on Satcom C3 #19; its there for one cable system that cannot receive Galaxy 1 anymore. TELSTAR VIDEO NETWORKS has taken over those two transponders vacated by the move of FLIX and SHOWTIME2 on Telstar 3. Transponder 19 now carries the TVN promo channel while #17 carries TVN Theatre 2. ZMUSIC, is now in business on Galaxy 1 transponder 15, providing 24 hours a day of "family" music videos. - - - - - - - - - - That really expensive service for bars, TAVERN TV, on Galaxy 6 #16 - they don't seem to be around anymore. What a surprise. - - - - - - - - - - Meanwhile, all of the various SportsChannels from around the country, will no longer be available without a subscription. SportsChannels are now being made available via two different programming options thru various packagers and will cost about the same as the other satellite sports package or around $120. per year. - - - - - - - - - - For those of you who haven't noticed, when Tom Snyder is live from L.A., on his CNBC show, the live feed is usually on Telstar 1 #18. However, as Tom was careful to explain recently on the show, between commercials he has told both ends to make sure the audios are killed so home dish viewers can't hear what's going on in the studio. Thanks a lot Tom! - - - - - - - - - - Hal Krisbergh, president of Jerrold [General Instruments], has announced that their new set-top digicable [digicipher compatable] convertors will employ a microprocessor with the power of an Intel 386 chip. These new set-top units will be what they call, a "residential information and control system" and will allow the introduction of new channels and interactive services into the home via cable tv. 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � DISHCETERA - THE SATELLITE TV INDUSTRY ON-LINE MAGAZINE � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� * DISHCETERA Satellite TV On-Line Magazine is available on the first MONDAY of each month at our BBS or at a fine BBS near you * News items, press releases, questions, comments, and/or any paperless feedback may be sent to any of the following: * G*E*N*I*E: JDolan2 (local access number) * CompuServ: 76164,1564 (local access number) * NODE:->SATEL on RelayNet(tm) - Satellite Tv Conference Host. * On any FIDO board that carries the TVRO conference. * On National Videotex: Satellite TV Conference (local access number) -OR- 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � SATELLITE TV BOARD OF INFORMATION BBS : (713) 623-4899 9600 bd v.32 � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � Many satellite tv/cable tv and other related public interest news items and � � files are available. There's no charge to access the bbs. � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴�  Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253