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The Satellite Home Viewer Act (SHVA) was passed in 1988 and has been updated and reenacted in 1994. The purpose of the Satellite Home Viewer Act is to protect the copyright area of local satellite network affiliates. SHVA states that satellite service providers like DirecTV and DISH Network can only allow clients with national networks use their services in the situation when they are not able to receive signals their local network affiliates through the use of a rooftop antenna. Additionally, the SHVA act says that the clients have not received network affiliated stations via cable within the past 90 days from hooking up their satellite systems. Satellite network companies like DirecTV and Dish Network have specific geographic areas that qualify for these national network feeds. The SHVA act was further updated and passed on November 29, 1999. This SHVA legislation allows DirecTV and Dish Network to offer local network affiliated stations to their customers now. However, if the local networks are not offered, customers must still meet the above criteria to receive the national networks.
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