 On October 7, 2009, NAB TV Board chair Paul Karpowicz planned to testify before the Senate Communications Subcommittee that broadcasters would be willing to allow subscribers of distant signals to continue to do so even if the digital transition resulted in those subscribers receiving stations that they could not before.The NAB did oppose offering new distant signals if a digital signal was available.The Satellite TV Modernization Act had to be passed by the end of 2009.