The National Association of Broadcasters knows the Federal Communications Commission is going to reallocate 100 MHz of the upper C-band, which it is legally mandated to do.

But the association warns that any clearing beyond that minimum threshold poses a significant risk to the nation’s critical broadcast infrastructure.

In its newly-filed reply comments, NAB contended that the upper C-band (3.98 to 4.2 GHz) is currently optimized and lacks the “headroom” for extensive clearing.

[This article was originally published in our sister publication, Radio World. They've also covered NAB’s previous filings during the comment filing period tied to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking the commission opened in November. Read one of those stories here.]

The deadline to file reply comments with the commission in Docket 25-59 was on Wednesday.

“Upper C-band is mission-critical to broadcasting and is already operating at its practical limit,” NAB told the commission.

“Insatiable” wireless carriers

The upper C-band is used by earth station operators, including broadcasters, whose operations have already been curtailed by prior auctions of the lower C-band to wireless operators.

The commission is required by statute to auction a minimum of 100 MHz of the upper C-band (2.98 – 4.08 GHz) spectrum no later than July 2027, but the FCC has proposed auctioning up to 180 MHz through competitive bidding.

The spectrum auction is expected to generate billions of dollars.

But NAB contended that outside of the “insatiable nationwide wireless carriers and a small subset of proponents focused on speculative future uses,” commenters in the docket overwhelmingly caution that additional clearing would jeopardize broadcast distribution, increase systemic risk and undermine public-interest services.

Even with the loss of 100 MHz of spectrum, NAB said a repack will inevitably cause some disruption to incumbent users in part because compressing services into less spectrum creates a “Tetris-like” problem.

Keep it in the C-band

SES, the major provider of C-band services to broadcasters in the U.S., previously stated that most incumbent users can be repacked quickly into a reduced C-band if reallocation is limited to 100 MHz.

In addition, repacking all or most users within C-band will be far less disruptive than forcing incumbents out of the upper C-band into other satellite spectrum or alternative platforms, NAB told the commission.

NAB rejected claims from wireless companies that other technologies are suitable “one-for-one” replacements for C-band spectrum. Those alternative platforms include IP, fiber and Ku-band, which broadcasters and satellite operators say “are neither universally available nor functionally equivalent, particularly for point-to-multipoint distribution, rural service, and live event coverage.”

“Relocation out of C-band presents far greater uncertainty. The costs to transition may be many multiples higher,” it said.

NAB said two other major stakeholders in this proceeding – the satellite operators and the aviation industry – agree that clearing any portion of the upper C-band will require significantly longer timelines than the lower C-band transition.

The FCC proposed to clear incumbent earth station operators from the band over a five and a half-year period and, as with the prior migration to the Upper C-Band, the commission will reimburse incumbent earth station operators for their transition costs via money raised from an auction of the spectrum.

The FCC previously stated there are approximately 20,000 registered earth stations used by radio and TV broadcasters to receive satellite transmissions.

Substantially the same

NAB emphasized the FCC should follow precedent set in the order that forced incumbents to relocate from the lower C-band in 2020.

“The Lower C-band Order repeatedly stated that incumbents would be provided substantially the same service, which must again be assured,” NAB wrote in its comments.

“The commission previously rejected an all-fiber (or nearly all-fiber) deployment as carrying a bevy of challenges,” the association continued. “Ku-band, while a valuable improvement over terrestrial fiber, remains more susceptible than C-band to weather-related degradation and would require years of satellite launches and costly retrofits to approach current C-band reliability.

In fact, NAB pointed to the Communications Act, which it says does not permit the commission to substitute “theoretical alternatives for actual continuity of service,” according to NAB.

Merely accessing a different technology that performs adequately under ideal conditions is not acceptable, NAB asserted. It said the commission has long recognized that the act does not permit license modifications that affect a “fundamental change” in a licensee’s authorization.

Section 316 permits license modification, but not fundamental alteration of the essential rights conveyed by an FCC authorization, according to the recent filing.

NAB also asked the commission to implement a direct-pay or upfront reimbursement mechanism to replace the previous framework of the lower C-band transition where operators had to front costs and wait years for repayment.

“Commenters consistently warn that further upper C-band clearing beyond 100 MHz would jeopardize the reliability of the nation’s video distribution infrastructure, impose disproportionate harm on small entities, and undermine services the public relies upon for news, emergency information, and live events,” NAB concluded.

Comments in Docket 25-59 can be read at www.fcc.gov.

[This article was originally posted in our sister publication, Radio World. Their extensive Business and Law coverage is available here]

C-SPAN and YouTube this week announced an agreement in which YouTube will sponsor C-SPAN’s America 250 programming and expand access to C-SPAN’s political, public policy, and cultural programming across YouTube and YouTube TV.

C-SPAN will also be added to Hulu + Live TV, a C-SPAN spokesman told Deadline.

The three C-SPAN channels—C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, and C-SPAN3—will all join YouTube TV’s base package lineup this fall. YouTube has also agreed to sponsor the network’s coverage of America 250 celebrations, and “investing in the optimization of C-SPAN's presence on YouTube,” C-SPAN said.

C-SPAN—the only TV network that provides complete gavel-to-gavel coverage of Congress, congressional hearings, and in-depth public affairs events—is a privately funded non-profit television network, operating free of government money and supported primarily through license fees paid by cable, satellite, and streaming companies.

Launched in 1979, C-SPAN is carried by most pay-TV providers and was once seen in more than 100 million homes, but cord-cutting in recent years has dropped viewership to around 70 million. In June, Congress unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution from Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) marking the 39th anniversary of C-SPAN 2’s first Senate broadcast and urging all television providers, including streaming services, to carry the network.

"In addition to the main YouTube platform, we are excited to bring C-SPAN's unfiltered, unbiased programming to YouTube TV’s growing streaming audience," said C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist. "For nearly half a century, C-SPAN has partnered with cable and satellite providers who recognize the value of our important public service. We now look forward to working closely with YouTube to bring C-SPAN's unfiltered coverage of the democratic process to millions more Americans.”

"C-SPAN has long been a vital resource for civic engagement, and we look forward to partnering with them to both expand their footprint on YouTube and to celebrate America 250 together,” said Mary Ellen Coe, Chief Business Officer, YouTube. “Through this partnership, Americans will have access to content that showcases the creators and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future, explores American pastimes and music, and takes a look back at the key historical moments that shaped our nation.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—C-SPAN has announced that starting on Election Day (Nov. 5) it will provide its most comprehensive election night coverage ever to date.

As part of its plans, C-SPAN will be starting its coverage earlier and will be providing more live coverage than ever before, with 17 hours of nonstop live coverage.

In addition to the presidential race, C-SPAN will focus on the state races which ultimately will decide control of Congress. In partnership with C-SPAN, Spectrum News will also be providing local coverage.

More specifically, C-SPAN, the nonprofit public-affairs television network funded by cable TV operators, said its coverage will include:

• Earlier Start Time and Continuous Live Coverage: Programming will begin earlier, at 7 p.m. (ET) on Nov. 5, with in-depth, live coverage continuing through at least noon on Wednesday (Nov. 6).
• Partnership With Spectrum News: Additional reports from our political news partner with detailed exit poll results and live local coverage from battleground states and states with key Congressional races. Also, Spectrum News+ election coverage will simulcast on C-SPAN2 throughout the night.
• Live and On-Demand Speeches: Access to full victory and concession speeches available for viewing on C-SPAN’s website.
• Interactive Results: Track up-to-the-minute, detailed results for the national campaign down to the congressional district level on C-SPAN.org.
• Hosted Coverage: The 17-hour nonstop commercial-free TV coverage will be hosted by C-SPAN's Greta Brawner, Peter Slen, Tammy Thueringer, Pedro Echevarria and John McArdle and produced by C-SPAN Political Editor Nate Hurst. Political experts, including Kirk Bado, Managing Editor of “The Hotline,” and NOTUS reporter Evan McMorris-Santoro, will discuss key races influencing the balance of power in Congress. The production also will incorporate reporters on the ground in battleground states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada, with live coverage from campaign headquarters. C-SPAN is expecting to present at least 20 victory and concession speeches from races around the country.

C-SPAN’s election night coverage will be available on C-SPAN, C-SPAN Radio, C-SPAN.org, the C-SPAN Now app and on C-SPAN’s YouTube page.

More information on its coverage is available here.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—C-SPAN has announced that longtime CNN executive Sam Feist will be the nonprofit public affairs network's next CEO.

Feist will be only the third CEO in the network's 45-year history, succeeding co-CEOs Rob Kennedy and Susan Swain, who have served in this role since 2012, and founding CEO Brian Lamb, who remains on the cable network's board of directors. 

In announcing the appointment, C-SPAN highlighted Feist's background as an editorial leader and a digital and television innovator with deep relationships throughout the Washington media and politics community. 

As senior vice president and Washington bureau chief, Feist currently heads CNN’s DC bureau which includes the network's largest newsgathering operation. He also leads the digital and editorial transformation of CNN en Español, CNN’s Spanish-language network. 

Feist graduated from Vanderbilt University and later earned a law degree from Georgetown University.  He is an active member of the DC Bar. 

C-SPAN chairman Pat Esser, retired Cox Communications CEO, describes Feist as "an outstanding leader who is trusted and respected by both sides of the aisle and who has a deep respect for C-SPAN's nonpartisan mission." 

“Our democracy needs C-SPAN now more than ever,” said Feist. “I look forward to working with C-SPAN’s extraordinary and dedicated team to expand the network’s reach and meet new audiences where they are.”

“C-SPAN is an American treasure and I could not be more excited to lead this essential institution,” added Feist.

Earlier this year, Lamb, Kennedy, Swain, and Esser formed a search committee on behalf of the network's board. Ann Carlsen of Carlsen Resources conducted a robust search, vetting nearly a hundred candidates for this position. In addition to executive management experience in media, the network wanted someone who would preserve C-SPAN's nonpartisan mission while also finding new distribution and funding opportunities as linear cable distribution declines. 

Kennedy and Swain had this to say about Sam Feist's selection: "Out of a small group of excellent finalists, Sam Feist stood out for his deep respect for C-SPAN, his leadership skills, his knowledge of Washington, and his digital transformation bona fides. We are confident that we are leaving C-SPAN in good hands."  

Feist will remain at CNN through the end of June to assist with his transition there. He begins his CEO duties at C-SPAN in late summer. Rob Kennedy steps down on May 17; Swain will continue as sole CEO until Feist takes over.  

C-SPAN, a nonprofit cooperative founded by the cable industry in 1979, is its premier public service, whose primary mission is to connect the public with their national government.  It operates 3 television networks available in 50 million cable and satellite households, an FM radio station in Washington DC, and numerous digital offerings. Its archives contain nearly 300,000 hours of contemporary public affairs programming. 

WASHINGTON—The head of C-SPAN’s camera crew broadcasting the marathon contest for House Speaker two weeks ago said he was “gutted” when he realized he had missed the altercation between Rep, Mike Rogers (R-LA) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) between the 14th and final 15th vote to confirm Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Speaking on WTOP radio’s DMV Download podcast, C-SPAN Crew Chief Steve Kehoe told host Luke Garret about the decisions leading up to the now infamous incident that overshadowed the most important news of the evening—the election of Speaker McCarthy at the end of a turbulent week that riveted American (and worldwide) viewers. 

After McCarthy lost the 14th vote the evening of Jan. 6, he left his seat on the House floor to approach Rep. Gaetz. After approximately 30-45 seconds of discussion, Rep. Rogers was seen approaching Gaetz in what appeared to be an attempt to get physical with Gaetz but was restrained by a fellow lawmaker before it broke out into actual violence. 

While the camera did catch the start of the incident, it quickly followed McCarthy as he returned to his seat. 

“The discussion we had had amongst the operators was 'OK, I'm gonna stick with McCarthy,'” Kehoe said. “So when he broke to go away, I heard everybody gasp, saying ‘Oh, did you see that?’ And while I saw a bunch of people coming down the aisle. I didn't know if I caught it.” 

After McCarthy was finally elected on the 15th vote, there was a lull on the House floor as preparations were being made to formally introduce McCarthy as the new Speaker. It was then that Kehoe realized what he had done. 

“I was gutted,” he said. “I was sitting there thinking ‘all anyone is going to talk about is the dust up and it would have been on my camera and I missed it.’ I didn't know until I saw it replayed right after, if it was going to be there or not.

“And it was eating me alive. They're sitting there thinking everyone's gonna say ‘I did it on purpose, because we didn't want it.’ It was gut wrenching.”

Kehoe discussed how that the drama that took place on the House floor evolved over time and why the network chose to focus on McCarthy’s opponents. 

“Every day, it changed… every vote, the story seemed to change,” Kehoe said. “So by the end, we had just decided amongst the production team—and this is a testament to [C-SPAN Director of Editorial Operations] Ben O’Connell giving us the freedom to make these calls—OK, we're going to make a point of showing everyone who at some point during the week, voted against McCarthy.”

As the official broadcaster of House proceedings, C-SPAN has a reputation (that it eagerly embraces) as a provider of boring content that is only of interest to inside the beltway political pundits (as well as a long-running live viewer call-in show that has become a cult favorite). And that’s mainly due to rules that are determined at the beginning of every Congress. Since its launch in 1979, when Tip O’Neill restricted camera coverage to just Representatives addressing the House and wide pans of the room. Speakers, for the most part, have kept those restrictions in place. 

But by getting permission to expand its camera coverage of the House Speaker race (which the news networks simulcast), the idea of bringing more up close and personal coverage of the House has initiated new requests to make that type of coverage a daily occurrence. Whether that will happen is anyone’s guess; however support is growing—Rep. Gaetz himself recently proposed such legislation. Nevertheless, Kehoe described his feelings about being a part of history.

"Representative government in action is one of the most compelling things you can imagine,” he said. “[Regarding expanding camera coverage] if there were more people in the chamber where there were more meetings amongst themselves, it might happen a little bit more. 

“But that's what was so amazing—you could see everyone there. And as the totals just changed a little bit here, we were getting a little bit closer. And then it's easy to come together. And that is what is compelling. There were no overt deals or anything like that. It was watching it grow in the moment that made it really interesting.” 

You can listen to the DMV Download here. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—C-SPAN has announced that Michael Piccorossi will join C-SPAN as the network's first chief digital officer. 

In the new role, Piccorossi will help guide C-SPAN's digital strategy, while working with multiple departments to produce digital products designed to improve the C-SPAN user experience, analytics, and results.

Piccorossi joins C-SPAN from Pew Research Center, where he's been for more than 12 years and most recently served as the managing director of digital product and strategy.  Prior to Pew Research Center, Piccorossi worked for many years at US News as the director of online operations. 

"Michael not only has the ideal background and experience to guide our digital strategy, but he comes to us as a longtime C-SPAN viewer," said C-SPAN co-CEO Susan Swain. "This will be enormously helpful as he works across the company to help improve our accomplishments to date and to further develop C-SPAN's digital presence."

Piccorossi has also been an adjunct professor in Georgetown's Integrated Marketing program. He will start at C-SPAN on August 22.

On leaving Pew Research for C-SPAN, Piccorossi said "I couldn't pass up this great professional opportunity to help another organization that's committed to presenting unbiased, unfiltered information to the American public."

Intelsat is working with Amazon Web Services on a connectivity solution that provides media companies with secure access between the IntelsatOne Media Network and AWS.

Cloud Connect Media is designed to provide content providers with a private, dedicated secure gateway between AWS and the Intelsat global media distribution network, said the company.

It aims to provide Intelsat’s media customers with a more efficient way to connect to their playout, video editing, and additional resources in the cloud while still accessing the IntelsatOne media network for centralized distribution and managed services, including uplink and/or downlink to key satellites and teleports, colocation, and much more.

C-SPAN is the first broadcaster to employ Cloud Connect Media. “Intelsat’s rollout of Cloud Connect Media helps complete C-SPAN’s transition to a total cloud configuration by providing a fast and reliable path from our uplink location directly to Amazon Web Services, with the most up-to-date connectivity available,” said Roxane Kerr, vice president of technology for C-SPAN.

“The ability to send and receive media content securely from the cloud, while maintaining broadcast-grade distribution reliability, has become a focus for many of our media customers,” added Bill O’Hara, VP and GM of media business at Intelsat.

“Cloud Connect Media uses AWS to help our customers access their cloud services while still being able to utilize the industry-leading Intelsat network and our full suite of media managed services for regional and global video distribution.”

WASHINGTON—As federal prosecutors continue to levy charges against those that participated in the Capitol Riots on Jan. 6, one man has also been charged for stealing C-SPAN equipment during the riots inside the Capitol.

CNN reports that Eric Gene Barber of West Virginia has been federally charged with entering restricted buildings, unlawful activity and theft.

Investigators were able to identify Barber through surveillance camera footage from inside the Capitol Rotunda, in which he was said to have stopped at a C-SPAN media station and rifled through equipment, according to an affidavit from the FBI, ultimately “appearing to unplug something and take it with him.”

The C-SPAN field technician that was using the station in question said that when he returned after being evacuated, a foldable stool and an iPad power station were missing.

A C-SPAN spokesperson confirmed to CNN that two employees had equipment stolen during the riot, but gave no further comment.

The full story is available on CNN’s website. 

NEW YORK—The 2020 Cable TV Pioneers Induction Ceremony will be coming to your TV set, as the organization has announced that C-SPAN will carry the ceremony on C-SPAN3 and stream it on C-SPAN.org. This will mark the first time the Cable TV Pioneers Induction Ceremony will be broadcast on TV.

The Cable TV Pioneers’ 54th annual induction ceremony will welcome 22 new members who continue to contribute to the growth of the cable TV industry.

“While the restrictions of COVID-19 prevent a traditional induction banquet, the pandemic has created a new and unprecedented opportunity to showcase the induction as a special televised presentation on C-SPAN3,” said Dave Fellows, Cable TV Pioneer chair.

The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, Dec. 4, at 9 p.m. ET. For more information, visit www.cabletvpioneers.com. 

WASHINGTON—C-SPAN said it would dedicate airtime to House members from both parties to broadcast brief video statements explaining their position on the emergency coronavirus legislation vote.

Many House members are unable to travel to Washington for the vote on the Cares Act coronavirus relief legislation, which takes place Friday, March 27.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-N.Y.) requested the network help connect members with the public during the crisis—a first for C-SPAN in its 41-year history, the network said.

C-SPAN currently is working internally to prepare for the onslaught of videos and is coordinating the technical details with the House leadership offices. At the moment, the network expects the statements to air in blocks during prime time the week of March 30.

The videos will air on TV and radio and be streamed from C-SPAN.org. They also will be archived in the network’s online video library.

WASHINGTON—The open impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump scheduled to begin next Wednesday are sure to grab headlines, but Americans will be able to watch the proceedings live as a result of the announced plans by many broadcasters to provide sweeping coverage of the proceedings.

In a blog post written on Common Dreams, Michael Winship and Bill Moyers explained how the Watergate impeachment hearings that were covered “gavel-to-gavel” by PBS in 1973 was public television’s “shining hour” and that PBS should repeat that practice once again with these new impeachment hearings.

However, it seems PBS needed little convincing. Friday, the same day Winship and Moyers’ story was posted, PBS announced its plans to cover the impeachment hearings, saying that it would provide live coverage of the hearings on TV and digital. The hearings will also be reaired during primetime on WORLD, the digital channel carried by 157 public TV stations; they will also be available on-demand on all PBS digital platforms.

Other broadcasters have set their coverage plans as well. CBS News will offer live “wall-to-wall” coverage on its CBSN streaming news service, while it will also preempt regular daytime programming for coverage of the hearings. C-SPAN has also announced its impeachment coverage plan.

The hearings will begin Wednesday, Nov. 13.

WASHINGTON—As open impeachment inquiry hearings for President Donald Trump are scheduled to get underway next week, C-SPAN has announced that it will be providing full, uninterrupted video coverage of all the proceedings.

The public access network says that it will provide “gavel-to-gavel” coverage of every Congressional session on both its television and streaming platforms. It will also make on-demand videos available through its website, C-SPAN.org.

A number of special features have also been announced, including special editions of the daily “Word for Word” newsletter that will have video clips of key moments and a special impeachment inquiry web resource at www.c-span.org/impeachment. On the impeachment website, viewers can access all of C-SPAN’s impeachment coverage on-demand.

Viewers can also sign-up to receive a daily C-SPAN program guide.

Congress will begin to hold its open hearings on the impeachment proceedings on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

NEW YORK—Viewers can now rep C-SPAN with pride, as the 24/7 government-centric network is now offering a variety of branded merchandise through a website that it developed with technology company Connekt.

Connekt seeks to activate smarter TV experiences through ads, content and commerce. In its partnership with C-SPAN, Connek created a website for an online store that sells C-SPAN memorabilia, which includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and mugs as part of the network’s celebration of 40 years on air. There is also specific merchandise for popular C-SPAN shows, like “American History TV,” “BookTV” and “The Washington Journal”; it will also carry the latest C-SPAN publication: “The Presidents: Noted Historians Rank America’s Best—and Worst—Chief Executives.”

Throughout the year, Connekt plans to distribute additional C-SPAN book releases, including “The Senate: An Enduring Foundation of Democracy” and the 2019 Congressional Directory.

See what C-SPAN has to offer at c-spanstore.org.

WASHINGTON—Congress opened its doors to the American public 40 years ago as of Tuesday, March 19, with the first broadcast of C-SPAN. The creation of C-SPAN has provided a level of transparency to government dealings for the everyday citizen, including political and policy debates that have ranged from budget talks to foreign policy.

C-SPAN came about as a privately-funded, non-profit public service TV network that was possible with the emergence of cable television. Since then, it has provided “gavel-to-gavel” coverage of both the House and Senate without editing, commentary or analysis, nor commercials. Over the years additional programs have been developed to supplement live coverage of government dealings that range from TV, radio, podcasts to social media platforms.

Some of the most famous moments that C-SPAN has covered throughout its history has included Congress debating whether to go to war in the Persian Gulf in January 1991; the House’s first change of political leadership (from Democratic to Republican) in 40 years in 1995; the debate and vote on impeaching Bill Clinton in 1998; Nancy Pelosi becoming the first woman speaker of the House in 2007; and the 2009 debate and passing of the Affordable Health Care Act.

C-SPAN has curated some of the most important bits of its coverage from each of its 40 years on YouTube. All C-SPAN content is archived on the C-SPAN website, free for public use.

“Forty years ago C-SPAN first put the U.S. House of Representatives on television, opening a window for viewers to get an unfiltered view of government,” reads a release from the network. “While Washington may have changed, we haven’t—our unblinking eye on Congress and public debate continues. The window is still open, giving the world a front-row-seat to democracy.”

Read More: A Q&A With C-Span Co-CEO Robert Kennedy

WASHINGTON--Satellite communications provider Intelsat has announced that C-SPAN, the Washington D.C. based suite of public affairs networks, has signed a new, long-term contract for C-band satellite services on Intelsat’s Galaxy 14 satellite.

C-SPAN will join a select group of top tier programmers on Intelsat’s highly penetrated Galaxy 14 neighborhood located at 125° West. Galaxy 14 distributes more than 200 channels in North America, with over 100 channels in HD. Intelsat will transport the signals from C-SPAN’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. via IntelsatOne fiber and provide an uplink to Galaxy 14 for distribution to cable head-ends via the Intelsat teleport in Ellenwood, Ga. Intelsat’s Riverside teleport in California will provide an additional disaster recovery uplink. C-SPAN is expected to transition its programming to Galaxy 30, a next-generation Intelsat satellite, after Galaxy 30’s planned launch in 2020.

“The breadth and depth of Intelsat’s satellite solutions will enable C-SPAN to efficiently provide our affiliates with reliable, high-quality feeds of our standard and high definition television signals,” said Roxane Kerr, vice president of technology, C-SPAN. “We chose Intelsat’s Galaxy 14 satellite because of the strong video neighborhood, robust protection program, cost-effectiveness, and long-term commitment to cable distribution, demonstrated by the Galaxy 30 replacement satellite program, ordered by Intelsat earlier this year.”

“The unprecedented reach of Galaxy 14 enables media customers to cost-effectively reach millions of viewers and, consequently, grow their business,” said Rob Cerbone, vice president and general manager of media, Intelsat. “Our hybrid satellite and fiber network coupled with our disaster recovery program will provide C-SPAN with the availability, resiliency and reliability needed to ensure their high-quality programming is distributed without interruption. C-SPAN’s long-term commitment to Intelsat is an example of the value that our video neighborhoods deliver and the advantage of the end-to-end solutions that we provide.”