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This bill would require the Federal Communications Commission to create rules for rebates when people lose access to TV or video channels because a cable or satellite provider is in a contract dispute with a broadcaster or other video programmer. In simple terms, if a company promised a subscriber certain programming but then blacked it out because of a negotiation problem, the customer would get a rebate for that period. The FCC would also have to decide how large those rebates should be.
- The new rules would apply to cable companies and direct broadcast satellite providers.
- The rebate would cover any time a subscriber is denied access to programming the provider agreed to offer when the person signed up or renewed service.
- The FCC would have 90 days after the law takes effect to write the rules.
- The bill covers disputes over TV station retransmission rights and other video programming carriage agreements.
Official Summaries
Stop Sports Blackouts Act
This bill requires cable and satellite broadcast providers to issue rebates to customers who are denied access to video programming included in their subscription because of programming negotiations.
Specifically, where a provider’s negotiations related to the retransmission or carriage of video programming result in the provider failing to offer access to programming included in a customer’s subscription, the customer must be issued a rebate for the affected period. The Federal Communications Commission is directed to issue rules to this effect, including to establish the appropriate amount for such a rebate.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 328 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 328
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal
Communications Commission to promulgate regulations with respect to
rebates for certain video programming blackouts, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 30, 2025
Mr. Murphy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal
Communications Commission to promulgate regulations with respect to
rebates for certain video programming blackouts, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Sports Blackouts Act''.
SEC. 2. REBATES FOR VIDEO PROGRAMMING BLACKOUTS.
Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 723. REBATES FOR VIDEO PROGRAMMING BLACKOUTS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered negotiation.--The term `covered negotiation'
means a negotiation with respect to--
``(A) retransmission consent of a television
broadcast station under section 325(b); or
``(B) carriage of video programming of an entity
that is not a television broadcast station.
``(2) Provider.--The term `provider' means either of the
following:
``(A) A cable operator, as defined in section 602.
``(B) A provider of direct broadcast satellite
service, as defined in section 335(b)(5).
``(3) Television broadcast station.--The term `television
broadcast station' has the meaning given the term in section
325(b)(7).
``(4) Video programming.--The term `video programming' has
the meaning given the term in section 602.
``(b) Promulgation of Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after
the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate
regulations--
``(1) to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of
that provider a rebate with respect to any period during which
the provider denies that subscriber, as a result of a covered
negotiation, access to video programming that such provider
agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as
applicable), to provide to that subscriber during that period;
and
``(2) to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate
issued under paragraph (1).''.
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