To prohibit multichannel video programming distributors from being required to carry certain video content that is owned or controlled by the Government of the Russian Federation.

SA 1096. Mr. McCAIN (for Mr. Graham (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse))
proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; as follows:

At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

SEC. _____. CARRIAGE OF CERTAIN PROGRAMMING.

(a) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``local commercial television station'' has
the meaning given the term in section 614(h) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 534(h));
(2) the term ``multichannel video programming distributor''
has the meaning given the term in section 602 of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522);
(3) the term ``qualified noncommercial educational
television station'' has the meaning given the term in
section 615(l) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
535(l));
(4) the term ``retransmission consent'' means the authority
granted to a multichannel video programming distributor under
section 325(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
325(b)) to retransmit the signal of a television broadcast
station; and
(5) the term ``television broadcast station'' has the
meaning given the term in section 76.66(a) of title 47, Code
of Federal Regulations.
(b) Carriage of Certain Content.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, a multichannel video programming
distributor may not be directly or indirectly required,
including as a condition of obtaining retransmission consent,
to--
(1) carry non-incidental video content from a local
commercial television station, qualified noncommercial
educational television station, or television broadcast
station to the extent that such content is owned, controlled,
or financed (in whole or in part) by

[[Page S5810]]

the Government of the Russian Federation; or
(2) lease, or otherwise make available, channel capacity to
any person for the provision of video programming that is
owned, controlled, or financed (in whole or in part) by the
Government of the Russian Federation.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed as applying to the editorial use by a local
commercial television station, qualified noncommercial
educational television station, or television broadcast
station of programming that is owned, controlled, or financed
(in whole or in part) by the Government of the Russian
Federation.
______