39–006 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 113–544 

SATELLITE TELEVISION ACCESS REAUTHORIZATION ACT 

OF 2014 

JULY 22, 2014.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. GOODLATTE, from the Committee on the Judiciary, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 5036] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill 

(H.R. 5036) to amend title 17, United States Code, to extend expiring provisions of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism 

Act of 2010, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 

without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 1 

Background and Need for the Legislation ............................................................. 2 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 2 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 3 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 3 

New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures ...................................................... 3 

Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate .......................................................... 3 

Duplication of Federal Programs ............................................................................ 5 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 5 

Performance Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 5 

Advisory on Earmarks ............................................................................................. 5 

Section-by-Section Analysis .................................................................................... 5 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 6 

Purpose and Summary 

The legislation extends the expiring Section 119 satellite distant 

into local license by one additional period of 5 years and makes two 

technical corrections to existing law. 


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Background and Need for the Legislation 

Title 17 contains three compulsory video licenses that are used 

by satellite and cable companies to obtain video content that is delivered to their customers. For satellite company customers who 

are able to receive local broadcast channels via an over-the-air antenna, satellite carriers that use these licenses are required by law 

to deliver only these local broadcast channels, instead of channels 

from another market. However, not all local television markets 

have local broadcast channels that serve them, primarily in rural 

areas. For these areas, the Section 119 license enables satellite carriers to obtain video content from distant network channels (typically New York and Los Angeles) and deliver that content to those 

customers who do not have access to local broadcast channels. 

The Section 119 license was originally created to ensure that satellite carriers could compete with cable systems that already had 

access to such channels. The growth of the two current satellite 

carriers indicates that this objective has been met. The Committee 

has requested and received a study from the Copyright Office on 

options to phase out one or more of the three compulsory licenses. 

The Section 302 Report, as it is known, was requested by Congress 

in Section 302 of P.L. 111–175, the Satellite Television Extension 

and Localism Act of 2010. The Copyright Office determined that 

the Section 119 license would be the easiest to phase out due to 

the declining number of American households that receive video 

content due to its existence, the limited number of channels that 

are obtained by it, and the limited number of satellite companies. 

The Copyright Office report, however, noted that private sector negotiations in lieu of the statutory framework had not occurred and 

would be unlikely to occur without certainty as to when the compulsory license would terminate. This legislation creates this certainty by setting a termination date of December 31, 2019, which 

should be more than sufficient time for private sector negotiations 

to occur over the next 5 years. 

Hearings 

The Committee’s Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, 

and the Internet held 2 separate days of hearings on the issues 

contained in H.R. 5036 on September 10, 2013 and May 8, 2014. 

On September 10, 2013, testimony was received on the topic of 

‘‘Satellite Television Laws in Title 17’’ from Mr. James Campbell, 

Vice-President for Regulatory Affairs, CenturyLink, Inc.; Mr. R. 

Stanton Dodge, Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and 

Secretary, DISH Network, LLC; Mr. Paul Donato, Executive VicePresident and Chief Research Officer, the Nielsen Company; Mr. 

Robert Garrett, Partner, Arnold and Porter, LLP on behalf of the 

Major League Baseball; Mr. Earle MacKenzie, Executive VicePresident and Chief Operating Officer, Shentel Cable on behalf of 

the American Cable Association; Mr. Preston Padden, former President, ABC Television Network and former Executive Vice-President, The Walt Disney Company (testifying on his own behalf); and 

Mr. Gerard J. Waldron, Partner, Covington & Burling, LLP on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters. 

On May 8, 2014, testimony was received on the topic of ‘‘Compulsory Video Licenses of Title 17’’ from Mr. William J. Roberts, Jr., 


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Acting Associate Register of Copyrights and former Judge of the 

Copyright Royalty Board, U.S. Copyright Office; Mr. R. Stanton 

Dodge, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, DISH Network; Ms. Marci K. Burdick, Senior Vice President of Broadcasting, 

Schurz Communications, on behalf of the National Association of 

Broadcasters; and Mr. Matthew M. Polka, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Cable Association. 

Committee Consideration 

On July 10, 2014 the Committee met in open session and ordered 

the bill H.R. 5036 favorably reported without amendment, by a 

voice vote, a quorum being present. 

Committee Votes 

In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee advises that no rollcall 

votes occurred during the Committee’s consideration of H.R. 5036. 

One amendment by Mr. Collins was offered and withdrawn. 

Committee Oversight Findings 

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the findings 

and recommendations of the Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the descriptive portions of this report. 

New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures 

Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does not provide new 

budgetary authority or increased tax expenditures. 

Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate 

In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth, with respect to 

the bill, H.R. 5036, the following estimate and comparison prepared 

by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 

U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, July 17, 2014. 

Hon. BOB GOODLATTE, CHAIRMAN, 

Committee on the Judiciary, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5036, the ‘‘Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014.’’ 


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If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Susan Willie, who can 

be reached at 226–2860. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF, DIRECTOR. 

Enclosure 

cc: Honorable John Conyers, Jr. 

Ranking Member 

H.R. 5036—Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act 

of 2014. 

As ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on 

July 10, 2014. 

Based on information from the Copyright Office, CBO estimates 

that implementing H.R. 5036 would not have a significant effect on 

the Federal budget. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5036 would 

not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

Under current law, satellite carriers pay royalty fees for the right 

to transmit certain television signals to their subscribers without 

obtaining permission from copyright holders. The statutory license 

allowing those transmissions is set to expire on December 31, 2014; 

H.R. 5036 would extend that license through December 31, 2019. 

Under the statutory license, satellite carriers pay royalty fees to 

the Copyright Office for transmission of certain copyrighted broadcasts and the Copyright Office later distributes those fees to the 

owners of copyrights on the transmitted material. Based on information from the Copyright Office, CBO expects that the additional 

workload to continue administration of the royalty payments would 

not be significant. Collections and disbursement of royalty fees are 

not recorded in the Federal budget; therefore, there would be no 

budgetary effect, with regard to those fees, to extend the statutory 

license. 

H.R. 5036 would extend existing intergovernmental and privatesector mandates, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

(UMRA), on satellite carriers and copyright holders (including public entities). The bill would extend through December 31, 2019, the 

royalty rates satellite carriers are required to pay for transmitting 

some copyrighted material. If this requirement were to expire, royalty rates would be negotiated privately between copyright owners 

and satellite carriers. The cost of the mandate would equal the difference between the royalties that would be set in the absence of 

the bill and the royalties set under current law. Based on information from industry sources and the Copyright Office, CBO expects 

that those rates would not differ significantly. Consequently, CBO 

estimates that the cost of complying with the mandates would be 

small and would fall below the annual thresholds established in 

UMRA for intergovernmental and private-sector mandates ($76 

million and $152 million in 2014, respectively, adjusted annually 

for inflation). 


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On June 13, 2014, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 

4572, the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014, as ordered reported 

by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on May 9, 2014. 

H.R. 4572 would extend provisions of current law that allow satellite carriers to transmit copyrighted material but would not extend the license that allows such transmission without permission 

from the copyright holders. CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 

4572 would cost about $1 million over the 2015–2019 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, for reports and 

regulatory actions by the Federal Communications Commission. 

The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Susan Willie (for 

Federal costs), Melissa Merrell (for the state and local impact), 

Tristan Hanon, and Patrice Gordon (for the private-sector impact). 

The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

Duplication of Federal Programs 

No provision of H.R. 5036 establishes or reauthorizes a program 

of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report from the 

Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 

21 of Public Law 111–139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings 

The Committee estimates that H.R. 5036 does not direct any rule 

makings proceeding within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551. 

Performance Goals and Objectives 

The Committee states that pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H.R. 5036, extends 

an existing compulsory license in Section 119 of Title 17 for an additional 5 years, and makes two technical corrections within existing law. 

Advisory on Earmarks 

In accordance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, H.R. 5036 does not contain any congressional 

earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 

in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of Rule XXI. 

Section-by-Section Analysis 

The following discussion describes the bill as reported by the 

Committee. 

Sec. 1. Short title. Section 1 sets forth the short title of the bill 

as the ‘‘Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014.’’ 

Sec. 2. Reauthorization. Section 2 makes two technical corrections to existing law in Section 111(d)(3) and changes the date 

‘‘2014’’ to the date ‘‘2019’’ in two provisions of existing Section 119 

to effectuate the extension. 

Sec. 3. Termination of License. Subsection 3(a) creates a new 

paragraph (h) in Section 119 to make clear that the Section 119 liVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:01 Jul 23, 2014 Jkt 039006 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR544.XXX HR544

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cense expires on December 31, 2019. Subsection 3(b) makes one 

conforming amendment in Section 107(a). 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported 

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

TITLE 17, UNITED STATES CODE 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 1—SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF 

COPYRIGHT 

* * * * * * * 

§ 111. Limitations on exclusive rights: Secondary transmissions of broadcast programming by cable 

(a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(d) STATUTORY LICENSE FOR SECONDARY TRANSMISSIONS BY

CABLE SYSTEMS.— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(3) DISTRIBUTION OF ROYALTY FEES TO COPYRIGHT OWN- ERS.—The royalty fees thus deposited shall, in accordance with 

the procedures provided by øclause¿ paragraph (4), be distributed to those among the following copyright owners who claim 

that their works were the subject of secondary transmissions 

by cable systems during the relevant semiannual period: 

(A) * * * 

(B) Any such owner whose work was included in a secondary transmission identified in a special statement of 

account deposited under øclause¿ paragraph (1)(A). 

* * * * * * * 

§ 119. Limitations on exclusive rights: Secondary transmissions of distant television programming by satellite 

(a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY FEES.— 

(1) APPLICABILITY AND DETERMINATION OF ROYALTY FEES

FOR SIGNALS.— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(E) PERIOD AGREEMENT IS IN EFFECT.—The obligation 

to pay the royalty fees established under a voluntary 


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agreement which has been filed with the Copyright Royalty Judges in accordance with this paragraph shall become effective on the date specified in the agreement, and 

shall remain in effect until December 31, ø2014¿ 2019, or 

in accordance with the terms of the agreement, whichever 

is later. 

* * * * * * * 

(e) MORATORIUM ON COPYRIGHT LIABILITY.—Until December 

31, ø2014¿ 2019, a subscriber who does not receive a signal of 

Grade A intensity (as defined in the regulations of the Federal 

Communications Commission under section 73.683(a) of title 47, 

Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 1999, or 

predicted by the Federal Communications Commission using the 

Individual Location Longley-Rice methodology described by the 

Federal Communications Commission in Docket No. 98-201) of a 

local network television broadcast station shall remain eligible to 

receive signals of network stations affiliated with the same network, if that subscriber had satellite service of such network signal 

terminated after July 11, 1998, and before October 31, 1999, as required by this section, or received such service on October 31, 1999. 

* * * * * * * 

(h) TERMINATION OF LICENSE.—This section shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2019. 

* * * * * * * 

SATELLITE TELEVISION EXTENSION AND LOCALISM 

ACT OF 2010 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE I—STATUTORY LICENSES 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 107. TERMINATION OF LICENSE. 

ø(a) TERMINATION.—Section 119 of title 17, United States 

Code, as amended by this Act, shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2014.¿ 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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