STELAR Act - Prepare to say goodbye to local channels on Satellite if not passed

Commerce: Reforming Broadcast And Cable Television Services

Under current law, broadcast stations like NBC, CBS, and ABC can grant or deny permission to a cable television operator to “retransmit” broadcast signals to cable customers, provided the cable operator pays the broadcast station. This is called “retransmission consent.” According to groups such as the American Television Alliance, reforms are needed to fix retransmission consent problems. Namely, they say that the current rules hinder small cable operators that serve rural markets to offer broadcast signals from neighboring television markets, that these cable operators have to go into "blackout" during contract negotiation, and that the high price for broadcasting signals results in increased costs for consumers and keeps small companies from being able to compete.

Both the House and Senate have put forth versions of a STELA Reauthorization Act. One House version - H.R.4572 – Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), would both extend the current legislation and also attempt to reform certain FCC rules, such as those that allow blackouts during contract negotiations. Alternatively, both the Senate version, S. 2454 - Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014, and a separate House bill, H.R. 5036 - Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014, are considered a “clean” versions because they extend the existing legislation but do include additional revisions.  Over the September campaigning recess, a number of conservative lawmakers began calling for a "local choice" version that would allow consumers to choose whether or not they pay for broadcast stations separately, such as the bipartisan  "Local Choice Act," co-sponsored by Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV).

Since Congress must act before the end of November 2014, lawmakers will likely pass a clean extender bill to meet the deadline during the lame-duck session and leave further negotiations on reform to the next Congress.

Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014

Reauthorization Satellite Television Extension | Video | C-SPAN.org

S.2454 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Sponsor:	Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] (Introduced 06/10/2014)
Committees:	Senate - Judiciary
Latest Action:	06/26/2014 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 445.

Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends federal copyright law, as amended by the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA), to extend until December 31, 2019, the statutory license under which satellite carriers retransmit distant television broadcast stations to viewers who are unable to receive signals for such stations in their local market. (Currently, the statutory licensing authority for such satellite retransmissions is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2014.)
Expands the local service area for cable retransmissions of low power television stations.

Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 (S. 2454) - GovTrack.us

Full Title

A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, to extend expiring provisions of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010.

Summary

Library of Congress »

6/26/2014--Reported to Senate amended.Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends federal copyright law, as amended by the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA), to extend ...

Prognosis

43% chance of being enacted.

Only about 23% of bills that made it past committee in 2011–2013 were enacted. [show factors | methodology]

S. 2454, Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 | Congressional Budget Office
S.2454: Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Charter Communications Statement Regarding the 'Satellite Television Extension Act Reauthorization of 2014' (STELAR) | SYS-CON MEDIA

"Charter Communications applauds the bipartisan 'Satellite Television Extension Act Reauthorization of 2014' (STELAR) and supports its passage.  The consumer oriented reforms contained within STELAR will help modernize current law and promote better service for consumers.  We are grateful for the leadership of the Members of the House and Senate involved in the negotiations.  Charter Communications looks forward to working with both the House and the Senate as it seeks to further modernize communications law next congress."