Policy and Rules for the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service

In this document the Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Report and Order that modifies direct broadcast satellite (DBS) regulation to more closely reflect the regulation of other satellite services, and moves the rules for DBS, located in part 100, to part 25 (Satellite Communications) and eliminates part 100 of the Commission's rules. The Report and Order streamlines the regulation of this rapidly growing and changing service and helps promote fair and increased competition in the multi-channel video programming distribution ("MVPD") market. These rules also promote efficient and expeditious use of spectrum and orbital resources while preserving maximum flexibility for DBS operators. The current rules in part 100, for the most part, were adopted almost 20 years ago when DBS was envisioned to be essentially a broadcast-type service. Since that time, the service has instead grown into a robust and successful segment of the satellite industry with programming services provided on a subscription basis. The service rules are revised to comport with the way that DBS actually operates.