Agricultural News and Rural Content Act of 2019

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require multichannel video programming distributors to carry rural video programming, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Agricultural News and Rural Content Act of 2019 2. Carriage of rural video programming (a) In general Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 601 723. Carriage of rural video programming (a) Carriage requirements (1) In general A multichannel video programming distributor with 5,000 or more subscribers shall use at least 1 percent of the channel capacity of such distributor to transmit or distribute to all of the subscribers of such distributor channels of video programming that predominantly serve the needs and interests of rural America. (2) Manner of transmission or distribution In transmitting or distributing channels under paragraph (1), a multichannel video programming distributor shall— (A) use the same transmission or distribution technology that the multichannel video programming distributor uses to transmit or distribute the majority of the high-definition channels or programs of such distributor; (B) include such channels in the most basic tier or package of such distributor such that every subscriber of such distributor may access such channels; and (C) place such channels in an appropriate news channel neighborhood. (b) Disclosure requirements A multichannel video programming distributor that is subject to subsection (a) shall— (1) prominently display, on a publicly available website, a list of the channels of video programming that predominantly serve the needs and interests of rural America included in the most basic tier or package of such distributor; and (2) disclose the information described in paragraph (1) at the point of sale. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Channels of video programming that predominantly serve the needs and interests of rural America The term channels of video programming that predominantly serve the needs and interests of rural America (A) rural news and agricultural weather forecasts; (B) information from the commodity markets (including from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade); (C) programming focused on rural healthcare, rural development, and rural education; and (D) other content relating to the needs and interests of farmers and ranchers and the rural lifestyle. (2) Channel neighborhood The term channel neighborhood (3) Multichannel video programming distributor The term multichannel video programming distributor (4) Unaffiliated and independent The term unaffiliated and independent (5) Video programming The term video programming . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Agricultural News and Rural Content Act of 2019 This bill requires certain video programming distributors, such as cable providers, to use at least 1% of their channel capacity to transmit channels of programming that serve the needs and interests of rural areas. Among other requirements, distributors shall (1) use the same transmission technology used to transmit the majority of the high-definition channels they provide, and (2) include such channels in the most basic tier or package available.