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Satellite Access to Local Stations Act

Introduced: January 6, 1999 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 25, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.
Jan 19, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Jan 6, 1999
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 6, 1999
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Satellite Access to Local Stations Act - Amends Federal copyright law to cite circumstances under which the secondary transmission by a satellite carrier of a primary transmission of a television broadcast station into the station's local market shall be subject to statutory licensing. Sets forth reporting requirements for a satellite carrier whose secondary transmissions are subject to such licensing requirements.

Precludes any royalty obligation for such secondary transmissions. States that noncompliance with such reporting requirements by a satellite carrier of a television broadcast station is actionable as an act of infringement and fully subject to copyright remedies.

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 regarding the retransmission of broadcasting station signals. Prohibits cable systems and other multichannel video programming distributors from retransmitting a broadcasting station's signal without the station's express consent. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to commence a rulemaking proceeding to revise regulations governing the exercise by television broadcast stations of the right to grant retransmission consent.

Prescribes requirements for the carriage of local television signals by satellite carriers, including: (1) carriage obligations; (2) carriage of all local television stations on contiguous channels and in a nondiscriminatory manner on any navigational device, on-screen guide, or menu; (3) compensation for carriage; and (4) remedies for failure to meet obligations.

What's happening now February 25, 1999

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Democratic 3 Republican 4 Independent 1
R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Mar 2, 1999
 R
Moran, Jerry
Kansas · Feb 11, 1999
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · Feb 9, 1999
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Feb 9, 1999
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Feb 2, 1999
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Jan 6, 1999
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Jan 6, 1999
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Jan 6, 1999
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 89: Satellite Access to Local Stations Act. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-89/
MLA
"H.R. 89: Satellite Access to Local Stations Act." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-89/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 89, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-89/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 89: Satellite Access to Local Stations Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-89/)
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