WASHINGTON, D.C. — A pair of House Democrats have teamed together to reintroduce legislation that they say is designed to ensure that community television operations continue to receive the resources they need to educate and inform viewers in the cities and towns where they operate.
Companion legislation was also introduced by a pair of Democrats in the U.S. Senate.
Representative Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-04), chair of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, were joined by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), in bringing the “Protecting Community Television Act” to both bodies of Congress prior to the end of the current Congressional session.
Whether or not it is acted upon may come down to days, rather than weeks.
As the legislators sees it, local governments are presently permitted to require, as part of cable franchise agreements, that cable companies meet demonstrated community needs by providing in-kind contributions that benefit schools, public safety buildings, and public, educational, and government (PEG) channels, also known as community television stations.
In August 2019, the FCC voted to permit cable companies to assign a value to these contributions and then subtract that amount from the franchise fees the cable operator pays the local community. As a result, the Democrats argue, local governments have to decide between supporting PEG stations in cable franchise agreements and supporting other important services for critical community institutions like schools and libraries.
Markey argued, “In this era of increased media consolidation and globalization, it is critical that we preserve the PEG operations that lift up local voices and air the programming that is most relevant to the lives of our family members and neighbors.”
Eshoo added, “Community television is a critical part of our society, giving a voice to nonprofits, artists, local governments, and other community members who otherwise struggle to be heard. The ‘Trump FCC’s’ actions on cable franchise fees have hurt public, educational, and governmental television, and this harms communities. I’m proud to introduce legislation … that reverses these harmful agency actions and protects community television by ensuring local voices have the platform they deserve.”
The Protecting Community Television Act “clarifies” that the franchise fees that cable companies provide local governments only include monetary assessments, not in-kind contributions.
Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) have also co-sponsored this legislation.
