Amendments for Satellite Bill Teed Up

[dfergie]

With the baseline STAVRA satellite compulsory license reauthorization bill text now out for comment and perusing, ammendments are being collected to try to steer it in one direction of another, including ones sure to raise the ire of cable operators.

Although cable ops were looking for more retrans reforms out of the bill, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and American Television Alliance Monday were both counting that baseline bill a victory and pushing for passage as is. The National Association of Broadcasters liked the direction, too, but still had some issues.

At press time Monday, a number of amendments were being teed up for a Wednesday markup according top copies obtained from sources, including a bunch that would make the bill even more broadcast friendly — or cable-unfriendly — mostly addressing particular points of interest and contention of their sponsors.

See Amendments at multichannel.com

 

[dfergie]

According to multiple sources, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) is expected to withdraw her amendment to a Senate Commerce Committee Satellite reauthorization bill (STAVRA) that would have put cable operators feet to the fire on customer service. - See
The amendment, which was unveiled Tuesday (Sept. 16), would have:

1. Directed the FCC to update customer service guidelines for cable operators.

2. Make clear the FCC has the authority to enforce those guidelines if the local franchising authority (LFA) doesn't.

3. Directed the FCC to establish customer service guidelines since they are not subject to LFA's or state of local jurisdictions.

4. Would have granted the FCC the authority to prevent unfair or deceptive acts or practices, similar to the Federal Trade Commission's authority.

multichannel.com

 

[Rolling Joe]

In the immortal words of Pete Townsend, "Meet the new bill, same as the old bill".