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2000 Consumer Electronics Show READ ALL ABOUT IT! PAGE 3 Panelists Ponder Local-into-Local for Small Markets With DBS services steadily ramping up their local-into-local services in numerous large markets, the question still remains about how to get similar services to smaller and rural markets. DirecTv President Eddy Hartenstein and EchoStar Chairman Charlie Ergen both said during a panel discussion that it would have made sense for the companies to share satellite capacity to deliver local broadcast signals. Though the panel lacked the sparks and controversey of years past, the executives said such a plan would be difficult to acheive now for numerous reasons.Problems such as incompatibility between their reception equipment and the orbital slots each company has decided to use to deliver their services would need to be addressed, they said. In addition, Ergen said, “We’re fierce competitors. So we may have passed the point of no return there.” Hartenstein suggested the companies could maintain their current local-into-local plans for the major cities and share satellite capacity to serve smaller markets. Technical compatibility issues could be resolved, he said, adding, “We’re certainly open to looking at that.” Meanwhile, congressional leaders have committed to considering legislation this session that would provide government guarenteed loans to parties interested in providing local broadcast signals to rural areas. However, Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio) noted that committment does not necessarily mean such legislation would pass. “I think it’s a long shot,” Oxley said, adding that once Congress starts considering the measure any number of factors, including budget concerns and jurisdictional issues, could weigh it down and prevent its passage. Congress almost included a rural loan provision in the satellite TV act, but dropped it at the last minute over just such concerns. “I hope I’m wrong,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I think it’s going to be a little tough to try to sell that...But I’d vote for it—if I got the chance.” Though there is bipartisan support for delivering local broadcast signals to rural areas, it could take a long time to achieve, Ergen said. “It took three years just to get local-into-local legislation, something that should have been a no-brainer,” he said. “Who knows how long it could take to get rural America so it’s fully covered." TURN THE PAGE OTHER ISSUES: Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000 Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000 Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000   Please direct questions about this site to general.mail@satbiznews.com q 2000 Satellite Business News Inc. All rights reserved.