Proposed bills seek to rewrite media rulebook

Looking to bring an end to channels going dark as a result of contract disputes between broadcasters and pay-TV distributors, two lawmakers are proposing legislation that could radically alter the media landscape.

The first bill, introduced by Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), is the Video CHOICE (Consumers Have Options in Choosing Entertainment) Act, which was praised by pay-TV distributors and criticized by broadcasters. The bill looks to give the Federal Communications Commission authority to keep a broadcast channel on during a contract dispute. Also in the bill is a provision that would prohibit a broadcaster from tying carriage of its television stations with distribution of its cable networks, a service otherwise known as bundling.

Rep Steve Scalise (R-LA) introduced another bill called the Next Generation Television Marketplace Act, which seeks to overhaul much of the current Communications Act, including retransmission consent rules and the compulsory copyright that was established in 1976 and allows cable and satellite operators to distribute broadcast television programs in return for paying a one-size-fits-all copyright fee. “Over the last several decades, communications and entertainment technology has become more advanced, while the laws governing the industry have remained relatively unchanged,” Rep Scalise said. "The government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers, and the Next Generation Television Marketplace Act ensures that by removing the heavy hand of government, the market is free to operate in a way that continues to benefit consumers and encourage innovation.”