Protecting Community Television Act

Bill: 118-s-340
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2023-02-09
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-09
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Protecting Community Television Act</b></p> <p>This bill limits the scope of the franchise fee paid by cable operators to encompass only a tax, fee, or other monetary assessment. (This fee is charged by a state or local authority for a franchise that a cable operator must obtain in order to provide its services in a particular area.)</p> <p>Historically, the franchise fee, which is capped at 5% of the franchise holder's gross revenues from providing cable services, did not include certain in-kind contributions and other costs, including some costs that support public, educational, and governmental (PEG) access channels. However, under a rule adopted on August 1, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission included most cable-related in-kind contributions and costs for PEG channels (except for certain capital costs) paid by new entrants and incumbent cable operators as part of the franchise fee, and therefore subject to the cap. This bill excludes those contributions and costs from the cap.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 340 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 9, 2023 Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Schumer , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Cardin , Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Hirono , Mr. King , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Schatz , Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Smith , Ms. Warren , Mr. Welch , and Mr. Wyden ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to modify the definition of franchise fee, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Community Television Act . 2. Modifying the definition of franchise fee Section 622(g)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 542(g)(1) ) is amended— (1) by striking includes and inserting means ; and (2) by inserting other monetary before assessment .