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Satellite Television Fair Marketing Act

Introduced: March 31, 1987 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 21, 1987
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 516.
Dec 21, 1987
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-272. Additional and minority views filed.
Nov 19, 1987
Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 31, 1987
Subcommittee on Communications. Hearings held.
Mar 31, 1987
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Mar 31, 1987
Introduced in Senate
 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 to not discriminate in price, 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.

What's happening now December 21, 1987

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 516.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1