Modern Television Act of 2021
- Last Action
- 5/18/2021
Actions
- 2021-05-18Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
- 2021-03-12Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
- 2021-03-11Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2021-03-11Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2021-03-11Introduced in House
- 2021-03-11Introduced in House
CRS Summary
As of 2021-03-11 (00)
Modern Television Act of 2021
This bill establishes measures to prevent blackouts of television broadcast stations, including requiring good-faith negotiations in broadcast agreements and providing for outside arbitration of certain negotiation disputes.
Specifically, the bill requires a station and a cable or satellite service to negotiate in good faith when attempting to reach a marketplace agreement, and it requires the cable or satellite service to retransmit the signal of a station for up to 60 days while the parties renegotiate an expired agreement. The Federal Communications Commission may require a station and a cable or satellite service to submit to binding arbitration to resolve any dispute that may arise (the parties must be retroactively paid for content aired during this time). Further, a station is prohibited from requiring payment from a cable or satellite service for customers of the cable or satellite service who do not receive the signals of the station from that service.
Additionally, the bill repeals specified provisions, including those related to retransmission consent and compulsory copyright licenses. The bill also disallows federal, state, and local authorities from regulating the rates of a cable or satellite service.
The Government Accountability Office must assess the impact of the bill.
Cosponsors (1)
- ANNA ESHOO (D-CA)
Subjects
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Administrative remedies
- Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
- Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
- Competition and antitrust
- Congressional oversight
- Consumer affairs
- Contracts and agency
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Government studies and investigations
- Inflation and prices
- Intellectual property
- Licensing and registrations
- Telecommunication rates and fees
- Television and film
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.