S. 124

Satellite and Cable Access Act of 2007

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II

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 124

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 4, 2007

Mr. Allard introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To provide certain counties with the ability to receive television broadcast signals of their choice.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Satellite and Cable Access Act of 2007.

2.

Satellite Carriage of television broadcast signals

Section 119(a)(2)(C) of title 17, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi);

(2)

by inserting after clause (v) the following:

(v)

Further additional stations

If 2 adjacent counties in a single State are in a local market comprised principally of counties located in another State, the statutory license provided for in subparagraph (A) shall apply to the secondary transmission by a satellite carrier to subscribers in those 2 counties of the primary transmissions of any network station located in the capital of the State in which such 2 counties are located, if—

(I)

the 2 counties are located in the 46th largest designated market area for the year 2005 according to Nielsen Media Research; and

(II)

the total number of television households in the 2 counties combined did not exceed 30,000 for the year 2005 according to Nielsen Media Research.

; and

(3)

in clause (vi) as redesignated, by striking and (iv) and inserting (iv), and (v).

3.

Cable carriage of televison broadcast signals

Part I of title III of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

342.

Carriage of signals to certain television market areas

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each cable operator providing service in an eligible area may elect to carry the primary signal of any network station located in the capital of the State in which such area is located.

(b)

Definitions

As used in this section:

(1)

Eligible area

The term eligible area means 1 of 2 counties that—

(A)

are all in a single State;

(B)

on the date of enactment of the Satellite and Cable Access Act of 2007, were each located in—

(i)

the 46th largest designated market area for the year 2005 according to Nielsen Media Research; and

(ii)

a designated market area comprised principally of counties located in another State; and

(C)

as a group had a total number of television households that when combined did not exceed 30,000 for the year 2005 according to Nielsen Media Research.

(2)

Network station

The term network station has the same meaning as in section 119(d) of title 17, United States Code.

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