Recap: Satellite Video 101

The House Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee held a hearing on February 13 to begin deliberation on whether or not to reauthorize, revise, or let expire the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), the law that governs how satellite companies offer broadcast television programming. Some provisions next sunset December 31, 2014.

The hearing only hinted at the contentiousness that could come as the expiration date gets closer. Satellite operators want Congress to wade into retransmission consent, leveling the playing field, they say, as part of the reauthorization, while broadcasters say leave it alone. Several legislators suggested a broader look might be required given the changes in how viewers access content. In teeing up the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) suggested everything was still on the table, from a "clean" reauthorization -- essentially just changing the date -- to expanding its scope or letting the compulsory license expire.