FCC Takes Aim at DISH Second Dish Effort

[Gregg Lengling]

The Media Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission granted a must-carry complaint filed by a TV station in the Paducah, Ky., DMA against EchoStar in a case that involves the satellite TV company's use of a second dish to deliver a small slate of locals.

The FCC granted the must-carry complaint for the station, WTCT of Marion, Ill., which is across the state border and Ohio River from Paducah. The FCC ordered EchoStar to submit a compliance report and plan within 30 days concerning the availability of the TV station via a second dish. The station is owned by Tri-State Christian TV.

The order issued Thursday also took issue with how EchoStar offered the second dish solution to consumers who wanted the station.

The Media Bureau said it was concerned with the interaction between EchoStar customer service representatives and potential subscribers seeking WTCT. The bureau said some consumers complained that both customer service representatives and installers associated with EchoStar tried to discourage customers from obtaining a second dish for "just one channel," the order stated.

The bureau listed specifics of some of the complaints. One customer told he had to purchase a second dish, while another was not informed of the need for a second dish and was forced to make several phone calls to obtain the extra antenna.

The Media Bureau order stated that EchoStar told the commission its customer service representatives were merely being extra cautious to assure customers received the service they wanted. The company also argued at the FCC that its efforts in the case do not amount to discrimination.

In a statement, EchoStar said, "DISH Network is in full compliance with FCC regulations on the two-dish solution for must-carry, and we believe Tri-State Christian TV's complaint is without merit."

While it's permissible to offer a second dish to receive satellite-delivered programming, the second-dish offering has come under scrutiny from some FCC commissioners.