The Federal Communications Commission has ordered satellite television providers such as Dish Network and DirecTV to offer the same broadcast services to Hawai'i and Alaska customers as are found on the Mainland.

The order, issued this month, could translate into the state's satellite television customers getting stronger signals and being able to trade in their satellite dishes for smaller ones, while being able to sign up for the service at more retail outlets, said Clyde Sonobe, state Cable Television Division administrator. It could mean that customers who use two dishes to receive programming may eventually be able to use only one, he said.

"Why, if you live in Hawai'i, do you have to have a dish that's twice as large?" said Sonobe.

The order requires satellite television companies with more than 5 million customers to provide television broadcast signals to provide a mix of standard-definition, high-definition and multimedia services to subscribers on the Mainland as well as in Hawai'i and Alaska.

"I am particularly pleased that our new rules require operators to construct each satellite to accommodate the provision of service to Alaska and Hawai'i in the event the satellite reaches, or is moved to, an orbital location that would provide this coverage," FCC commissioner Robert McDowell said in a statement.

The state Cable Television Division is applauding the decision, saying it should result in an improved level of satellite television services here.

"Hawai'i consumers are entitled to the same DBS (satellite TV) services that are available on the Mainland," said Sonobe. He said DirecTV, and to a lesser extent, DishNetwork, do not provide equivalent service to Hawai'i consumers.

Sonobe said he expected the companies would comply with the FCC order.

Separately, Dish Network and DirecTV have been working to meet a deadline for carrying high-definition versions of ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in Hawai'i and Alaska. The companies have faced challenges in providing the service because broadcast satellites typically are positioned to provide service to North America.

It's also the reason why satellite TV providers sometimes offer Hawai'i's customers a limited channel lineup compared to those offered Mainland customers. Neither of the two companies currently offer Hawai'i customers high-definition versions of local network affiliates.

In Hawai'i, there are only about 40,000 satellite TV households, compared with about 400,000 cable-TV households.

High-definition, or HDTV, is a version of digital TV that is far richer and sharper than standard TV signals or non-HDTV digital signals.