Grange to Congress: Rural Americans need information access during pandemic

On Monday, April 20, the National Grange released a statement calling on Congress to ensure service is available rural Americans using satellite TV to access vital information by extending the STELAR act.

National Grange President Betsy Huber said:

“The ongoing COVID-19 crisis makes clear the unique challenges that rural and underserved Americans face not just with respect to public health, but also in terms of their access to important information and programming. In this difficult time, Americans need reliable access to news, entertainment, and other content is being unnecessarily put at risk by the looming expiration of the Copyright Act’s distant network signal license on May 31.

Unless Congress acts to extend the expiration of the distant network signal license until the end of the year, many satellite subscribers in rural communities that receive broadcast program today will be left in the dark in the middle of a national emergency. That is simply unacceptable. Congress has a responsibility to act now to make sure that all Americans are given the tools they need to protect themselves and their families during this unprecedented and challenging time.”