STELAR Passes Senate

The just-passed Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR) Act, the House reauthorization of the satellite compulsory license, has passed the Senate by unanimous consent after being hotlined. (Hotlining is an off-the-floor way to achieve swift passage in that body by seeking unanimous consent, essentially asking anybody who has objections to register them, and if none are registered, the bill passes. One "nay" vote and the fast-track move fails.)

The bill renews for five years the compulsory license that allows satellite operators to import distant network signals to subscribers lacking a local version. It also sunsets the Federal Communications Commission ban on integrated set-tops, makes several retransmission consent reforms, and reauthorizes the FCC's ability to enforce good faith retransmission negotiations.

Sens Ed Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler calling on the FCC to use its authority "to ensure that consumers have more choices in set top boxes than merely leasing their boxes from their cable company."