This legislation mandates the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop regulations within 90 days requiring certain video programming providers to issue rebates to their subscribers. These rebates would be issued when subscribers are denied access to programming that the provider had agreed to supply at the time of subscription or renewal. The denial of access, commonly known as a blackout, must specifically result from a covered negotiation , which includes disputes over retransmission consent for television broadcast stations or carriage of other video programming. The bill defines providers as cable operators and direct broadcast satellite service providers . The FCC would also be responsible for establishing the appropriate amount for these mandatory rebates.
This legislation mandates the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop regulations within 90 days requiring certain video programming providers to issue rebates to their subscribers. These rebates would be issued when subscribers are denied access to programming that the provider had agreed to supply at the time of subscription or renewal. The denial of access, commonly known as a blackout, must specifically result from a covered negotiation , which includes disputes over retransmission consent for television broadcast stations or carriage of other video programming. The bill defines providers as cable operators and direct broadcast satellite service providers . The FCC would also be responsible for establishing the appropriate amount for these mandatory rebates.