S328-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Sports Blackouts Act.

2. Rebates for video programming blackouts Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: In this section: The term covered negotiation means a negotiation with respect to— retransmission consent of a television broadcast station under section 325(b); or carriage of video programming of an entity that is not a television broadcast station. The term provider means either of the following: A cable operator, as defined in section 602. A provider of direct broadcast satellite service, as defined in section 335(b)(5). The term television broadcast station has the meaning given the term in section 325(b)(7). The term video programming has the meaning given the term in section 602. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate regulations— to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of that provider a rebate with respect to any period during which the provider denies that subscriber, as a result of a covered negotiation, access to video programming that such provider agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as applicable), to provide to that subscriber during that period; and to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate issued under paragraph (1). 723.Rebates for video programming blackouts(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Covered negotiationThe term covered negotiation means a negotiation with respect to—(A)retransmission consent of a television broadcast station under section 325(b); or(B)carriage of video programming of an entity that is not a television broadcast station.(2)ProviderThe term provider means either of the following:(A)A cable operator, as defined in section 602.(B)A provider of direct broadcast satellite service, as defined in section 335(b)(5).(3)Television broadcast stationThe term television broadcast station has the meaning given the term in section 325(b)(7). (4)Video programmingThe term video programming has the meaning given the term in section 602.(b)Promulgation of regulationsNot later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate regulations—(1)to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of that provider a rebate with respect to any period during which the provider denies that subscriber, as a result of a covered negotiation, access to video programming that such provider agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as applicable), to provide to that subscriber during that period; and(2)to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate issued under paragraph (1)..

723. Rebates for video programming blackouts In this section: The term covered negotiation means a negotiation with respect to— retransmission consent of a television broadcast station under section 325(b); or carriage of video programming of an entity that is not a television broadcast station. The term provider means either of the following: A cable operator, as defined in section 602. A provider of direct broadcast satellite service, as defined in section 335(b)(5). The term television broadcast station has the meaning given the term in section 325(b)(7). The term video programming has the meaning given the term in section 602. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate regulations— to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of that provider a rebate with respect to any period during which the provider denies that subscriber, as a result of a covered negotiation, access to video programming that such provider agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as applicable), to provide to that subscriber during that period; and to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate issued under paragraph (1).