STELAR Is Now the Law

With the stroke of a pen, the relatively drama-free Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR Act or HR 5728) became law Dec. 4 after President Barack Obama signed the bill, which reauthorizes the satellite compulsory distant signal license for another five years, and makes some retransmission consent-related changes, as well as sunsetting the Federal Communications Commission's ban on integrated set-tops after a year. It also renews the FCC's authority to enforce good faith retransmission consent negotiations, with a mandate to the FCC to study the definition of good faith, as well as extending the FCC's prohibition on coordinated retransmission negotiations among non-commonly owned TV stations in a market from the top four to all stations.