Actually Ed, that is not at all true. The 1996 Telecom Act said that all carriers had to provide access to their networks, in the same way that Ma Bell was orderred to allow access to third party manufacturers of handsets.

In the late 90′s small dish satellite companies were just getting established and in keeping with the FCC’s policy of providing waivers to new players providing new technologies, the FCC granted the satellite companies a temporary waiver. The 1996 telecom law stated the waiver is to last only so long as is necessary to establish the new technology. Well, one decade later, I’d say DirecTv and Dish are pretty well established with their 20% viewership share.

The FCC only granted a waiver for the compliance with the third party navigation device (aka what is now known as “cablecard”) access. Satellite companies must comply with other FCC regulations just like everyone else.