Current status is Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 328

1. Short title
2. Rebates for video programming blackouts

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "Stop Sports Blackouts Act".

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:

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).