For Immediate Release:
Friday, December 8, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren today cosponsored legislation aimed at restoring network television signals to eligible DISH Network customers affected by an injunction recently imposed by a federal judge in Florida.  In Oklahoma alone, more than 20,000 DISH Network subscribers were affected by the court’s decision requiring the satellite company to cease providing distant network signals by Dec. 1.

 

“As a DISH Network subscriber myself I know how frustrating this has been,” Boren said.  “The flood of phone calls and emails my office has received from constituents affected by the court’s action has made it clear that something must be done.”

 

Boren supports H.R. 6384, which would allow the court to accept a settlement reached between DISH Network and four of the five plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the company.  The court had originally rejected the proposed agreement, which would have prevented the service disruption for DISH Network customers qualified to receive the distant signals, claiming that without action from Congress the law did not allow for a settlement.

 

“DISH Network was found guilty in court of violating federal law and they need to accept the consequences for that,” Boren said.  “But their customers are the ones being inconvenienced and we need to ease that burden.”

 

The bill is a last-minute effort to restore service before Congress adjourns for the year. 

 

“Most of the affected households are in rural and underserved areas like Eastern Oklahoma,” Boren said.  “Rural customers deserve access to the same programming as customers in urban and suburban communities and I am committed to ensuring they receive it.”

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