Chairman Walden Releases First Draft of STELA Reauthorization

House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) released the first discussion draft of legislation to reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), which contains provisions that will expire on December 31, 2014. The subcommittee will discuss the draft legislation at a hearing Wednesday, March 12, 2014.

The draft legislation, which would reauthorize the law for five years, includes:

• Limitations on joint retransmission consent negotiations in conjunction with limitations on Federal Communications Commission action on broadcaster shared services arrangements;
• The elimination of the “sweeps” week prohibition on signal changes; and
• The elimination of the set-top box integration ban.