Testimony of Schurz SVP Marci Burdick on Satellite Television Law WASHINGTON, DC -- Schurz Communications Senior Vice-President of Broadcasting Marci Burdick testified this morning before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology at a hearing entitled The Satellite Television Law: Repeal, Reauthorize, or Revise?
Below is a transcript of her testimony as prepared for delivery.
* * *
Good morning, Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Eshoo, and members of this Subcommittee. My name is Marci Burdick, and I am the Senior Vice President of Schurz Communications where I oversee eight television stations, three cable companies and 13 radio stations. I am also the Television Board Chair for the NAB, on whose behalf I testify today.
Local broadcast television remains unique because it is free, it is local and it is always on even when other forms of communication may fail. Television broadcasters are the most watched media for high quality entertainment, sporting events, local news, emergency weather warnings and disaster coverage.
Schurz has stations in tornado-prone places like Wichita, Kansas, and Springfield, Missouri. I can tell you from my own personal experience, our viewers rely on us to stay informed during times of weather emergencies, not unlike the terrible storms weve seen this year.
With that backdrop, thank you for the opportunity to be here today to discuss the reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act, or STELA. As broadcasters, we approach this debate asking a simple question: Is satellite's distant signal compulsory license still in the public interest?
We know the universe of distant signals is shrinking and more and more viewers are receiving their local programming through satellite. Today DISH provides local-into-local service in all 210 television markets, and DirecTV in 197 markets. To justify the extension of this law, however, we need more specific information. For instance, how many subscribers rely on the distant signal? How many subscribers are grandfathered but also receive local-into-local service? What is the number of subscribers that receive the distant signal only for use in a boat or RV? Unfortunately, this information resides only in the hands of Dish and DirecTV. By digging into these facts, we can have an honest debate about whether this law is still needed.
At a minimum, NAB asks this Committee to embrace a clean reauthorization that does not include unrelated and highly controversial provisions that undermine the ability of broadcasters to provide high quality and locally-focused content. For example, some would like to use the STELA reauthorization to make drastic changes to a free marketplace negotiation called retransmission consent. I believe such changes would harm consumers.
I've been with Schurz Communications for 25 years and I come to this hearing with a unique perspective on the video marketplace. My company is a member of both NAB and ACA we are a broadcaster and a cable operator. I can tell you that from our vantage point, as a small company that has been on both sides of the retransmission consent negotiating table, the current system works.
So I ask this Subcommittee if it isn't broken, why fix it? The retransmission consent system in place today has a success rate of 99%. Only in Washington, DC, could something that works 99% of the time, providing for thousands of deals every year, be called broken. This success rate trumps the effectiveness of the best medicines, the free throw percentage of the most accurate basketball player, and the approval ratings of the Dalai Lama and the Pope; yet no one would ever doubt whether those are effective.
The false fixes being suggested by my friends in the cable and satellite industry not only would harm consumers, but would do nothing to improve on the system that we have today. In fact, the effect would be just the opposite.
One proposal would allow the importation of distant, out-of-market signals in the event of a contractual impasse. In the real world, that means Congress would negate existing contracts between the broadcast networks, like ABC, and their local affiliates, like KOHD in Bend, Oregon or KGO in the Bay Area. If Congress were to allow distant signals to come into local markets, you will have gutted my affiliation contract, while leaving viewers in Bend, Oregon or the Bay Area to receive perhaps Los Angeles news and sports.
Additionally, by allowing distant signal importation, Congress would be placing its thumb on the bargaining scales by fundamentally skewing the negotiating leverage of the parties. The resulting effect would be MORE contractual impasses, not less. With fewer viewers and less advertising dollars, the localism television broadcasters provide would be compromised. This would ultimately leave your viewers with less local community programming; your local businesses with fewer places to reach local customers through TV advertising; and politicians with no effective medium to reach their constituents. None of this is good for the consumer.
In conclusion, as television broadcasters, we arent coming to Congress asking for a leg up in our negotiations, or for changes to a law to benefit one side or another. We will fight our own fights, we want to make our own deals - we only ask that Congress not tip the scales in favor of any one industry.
I thank you for inviting me here today, and I look forward to your questions.
* * *
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for Americas broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunit
Most recent headlines
02/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
02/01/2026
Sequins, chat shows, live sporting action, ground-breaking docuseries and brand-new Irish drama to kick off 2026
New Year, New Content Coming Soon across RT
...
01/01/2026
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship The scholarship will cover tuition and housing for one Berklee College of Music stud...
01/01/2026
New year, new games, all with RTX 5080-powered cloud energy. GeForce NOW is kicking off 2026 by looking back at an unforgettable year of wins and wildly high fr...
31/12/2025
Back to All News
NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix Scores Again With the Lions-V...
30/12/2025
As the College Football Playoff Enters the Quarterfinals, ESPN Blows Out Its Meg...
30/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Original ArticlesTake a look back at all our coverage of big-time productions, game-changing technologies, and state-of-the-art new faci...
30/12/2025
MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 30, 2025 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, J...
30/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
30/12/2025
Your live countdown to 2026 with Inhaler, David Gray, Lyra, Garron Noone, Sharon...
30/12/2025
It marked the first civilian operational authorization for a HAPS flight in Europe, led by Space42's subsidiary, Mira Aerospace
The flight demonstrated HAP...
29/12/2025
San Francisco 49ers Strike Gold With Halftime Laser SpectacularStunning display caps $200 million renovation of Levi's Stadium techBy Dan Daley, Audio Edito...
29/12/2025
The Cup's Around the Corner: An Inside Look at Broadcast Preparations for th...
29/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Longform VideoWatch the standout keynote conversations, deep dives, and panel discussions from the year for free on SVG PLAY!By Brandon ...
29/12/2025
From crisper Lossless audio and immersive music videos in beta to new Audiobooks+ plans, custom transitions between tracks, and in-app Messages, we keep levelin...
29/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
27/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
25/12/2025
Holiday lights are twinkling, hot cocoa's on the stove and gamers are settling in for a well-earned break.
Whether staying in or heading on a winter getawa...
24/12/2025
What is AI good for? Posted by MTI Film on December 24, 2025
What is AI good for?
What is AI good for?
It's been three years since ChatGPT first cap...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
The Boyfriend' Season 2 Unveils Heartwarming Trailer, Key...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
Love, Fights, and Everything in Between: Badly in Love' Returns for Season 2
Entertainment
24 December 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied t...
24/12/2025
Scripps Research study links sleep variability with sleep apnea and hypertension How consumers' digital activity trackers could enable personalized health s...
23/12/2025
How guilas Cibae as Dominican Winter League Games Are Locally Produced for Glob...
23/12/2025
BitFire's Jim Akimchuk on Supplying Scalability and Customization in the Clo...
23/12/2025
CAMB.AI Enables European Athletics to Offer Multi-Language SupportPlan is to eventually offer translation into all languages spoken in EuropeBy Ken Kerschbaumer...
23/12/2025
Analysis: As sports media values trend negative, scarcity and quality are king By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 14:08
Print ...
23/12/2025
ESPN, Disney, and NBA Return to the Animated Altcast Fray With Second Edition of...
23/12/2025
End the Year on a High Note and Donate to the Sports Broadcasting Fund Today!By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:25 pm
P...
23/12/2025
The year is winding down, the weather outside is frightful, and it's the perfect time to escape into a story that warms the heart. For listeners looking for...
23/12/2025
A Zeus motor is hot fire tested at L3Harris' Camden, Arkansas, solid rocket ...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Lightware will exhibit several major product innovations at ISE 2026, including the new USB-C BOOSTER-V1, Google Meet. integration for various Taurus UCX models...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Taking the Stage at Carnegie Hall-On a Global Scale Boston Conservatory Orchestra students reflect on their epic concert marking the 80th session of the UN Gene...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's The Great Flood and Culinary Class Wars 2 Top Gl...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things By the Numbers: How the Global Phenomenon Shap...
23/12/2025
Experience the power of WO Automation for Radio's newest service, the System Effectiveness Review. Designed to help you achieve more, a System Effectiveness...
Testimony of Schurz SVP Marci Burdick on Satellite Television Law WASHINGTON, DC -- Schurz Communications Senior Vice-President of Broadcasting Marci Burdick testified this morning before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology at a hearing entitled The Satellite Television Law: Repeal, Reauthorize, or Revise?
