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HR 4756 101th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Cable television Communication satellites Television relay systems

Satellite Viewers' Rights Act

Introduced: May 9, 1990 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 29, 1990
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
May 9, 1990
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
May 9, 1990
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Satellite Viewers' Rights Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require providers of satellite-delivered television programming to: (1) make such programming available to home satellite users for private viewing; (2) establish reasonable and nondiscriminatory criteria for such programming when making it available through any other person for distribution so that non-cable distributors shall qualify to distribute such programming for private viewing by home satellite antenna users; and (3) establish prices, terms, and conditions for the wholesale distribution of satellite-delivered programming which do not discriminate in distribution to distributors for cable television subscribers and distributors to home satellite antenna users. Allows for the charging of different rates which are attributable to differences in cost, volume discounts, bona fide prior agreements, or to the transmission of network television programming by any person who encrypts such programming if such person is not engaged directly in retail distribution of programming to home satellite antenna users and is not affiliated with any cable television system operator.

Allows persons affected by violations of this Act to bring an action in a U.S. district court or other appropriate court. Provides remedies and fines for violations of this Act.

What's happening now May 29, 1990

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2