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HR 1885 100th Congress House

Satellite Television Fair Marketing Act

Official title: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for fair marketing practices for certain encrypted satellite communications.

Introduced: June 18, 1987 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative procedureAgriculture and Rural AffairsAmericans in foreign countriesArmed Forces and National Security
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Armed forces abroadCable televisionCivil actions and liabilityCommunication satellitesCommunications and BroadcastingCompetitionCourts and Civil ProcedureFederal Communications CommissionInternational AffairsInternational broadcastingPublic televisionRural affairs legislationSpaceTelevisionTelevision programs
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This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 30, 1988
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Jun 30, 1988
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 29, 1988
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 15, 1988
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 1, 1987
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 8, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Mar 31, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 31, 1987
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 30, 1988

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Satellite Television Fair Marketing Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the encrypting of satellite programming from the Public Broadcasting Service and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Requires anyone who encrypts satellite delivered programming for private viewing to: (1) make it available for private viewing by home satellite antenna users; (2) establish reasonable character and financial criteria for distributors of satellite delivered programming and not discriminate in prices, terms, or conditions among distributors offering similar distribution services; and (3) conduct such encryption according to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - approved standards designed to comply with specified criteria.

Requires the FCC-approved standards to provide the public interest benefits of a universal encryption system permitting decryption by cable television subscribers and home satellite users. Authorizes aggrieved persons to commence civil actions to enforce this Act.

Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a study of pricing and distribution terms of satellite television programming to determine whether the programming market is developing competitively. Authorizes the FTC to establish remedies necessary to produce adequate competition.

Requires the FCC to begin a rulemaking proceeding on improving access to network signals for rural Americans.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 1 Republican 2
R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Aug 6, 1987
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jun 18, 1987
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · Mar 31, 1987
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1885: Satellite Television Fair Marketing Act. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1885/
MLA
"H.R. 1885: Satellite Television Fair Marketing Act." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1885/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1885, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1885/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1885: Satellite Television Fair Marketing Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1885/)
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