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Satellite TV Providers Fight 5 Percent Tax Plan

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Jun 9, 2009 11:25 am US/Eastern

Satellite TV Providers Fight 5 Percent Tax Plan

BOSTON (AP) ― Satellite television providers are complaining about a proposal to levy an additional 5 percent tax on their Massachusetts subscribers.

The Senate added the requirement to its proposed fiscal 2010 budget, now under discussion in a House-Senate conference committee.

The providers say the proposal is punitive and unfair. They plan to fly the DirecTV blimp over Fenway Park on Tuesday and Wednesday in protest.

Cable television providers have long complained they have to charge their customers a similar 5 percent "franchise" fee.

But that fee goes to reimburse cities and towns for stringing poles and cables through the communities. DirecTV and Dish Network beam their signals to consumers from satellites 22,300 miles in space.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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