Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a Presidential veto of a bill that applies additional regulations to cable operators, including monthly rates and customer service standards.

Highlights:

- Authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that basic cable rates for subscribers of a cable system that is not subject to effective competition do not exceed the rates for subscribers of a cable system that are subject to effective competition. This includes rates associated with the installation and lease of equipment used by subscribers to access basic cable and connections for additional televisions receivers [sec. 3 (623) (b) (1)]. - Requires the FCC to establish customer service standards within 180 days, and regularly review such regulations. These standards must include, at minimum, requirements governing office hours, telephone availability, installations, outages, service calls, and communications between the cable operator and subscriber [sec. 8 (632) (b)]. - Prohibits cable systems or other multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD) from retransmitting any part of a signal of a broadcast station without the direct consent of that station [sec. 6 (b) (1)]. - Requires cable operators to carry the signals of local commercial television stations, depending on the following conditions [sec. 4 (614) (a-b)]:

- A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels and 300 or fewer subscribers is not required to adhere to this requirement, provided that such a system does not delete any signal of a broadcast television station; - A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels and more than 300 subscribers must carry the signals of at least three local commercial stations; and - A cable operator with more than 12 activated channels must carry the signals of local commercial stations, up to a maximum of one-third of the aggregate number of usable activated channels of such system.

- Requires cable operators to carry the signals of noncommercial educational television stations, depending on the following conditions [sec. 5 (615) (a-e)]:

- A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels must carry the signal of one local noncommercial educational television station; - A cable operator with 13 to 36 activated channels must carry the signal of at least one local noncommercial educational television station but shall not be required to carry more than three; and - A cable operator with more than 36 activated channels must carry the signal of each noncommercial educational television station requesting coverage. However, beyond providing the signals of three such stations, the cable operator would not be required to carry signal of additional stations if such programming substantially duplicates the programming broadcast by another qualified local noncommercial educational television station requesting carriage.

- Prohibits cable operators from requiring a subscription to anything beyond basic service as a condition of a access to video programming offered on a per channel or per program basis. Cable operators are also prohibited from discriminating between subscribers depending on their level of subscription [sec. 3 (623) (b) (8)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within 180 days that prohibit discrimination by a satellite cable programming vendor or satellite broadcast programming vendor in the prices, terms, and conditions of sale or delivery of satellite cable programming or satellite broadcast programming among or between cable systems, cable operators, or other MVPDs, or their agents or buying groups [sec. 19 (628) (c) (2) (B)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within one year that prohibit cable operators or other MVPDs from requiring a financial interest in a program service as a condition for carriage on one or more of such operator's system [sec. 6 (642) (1)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within one year limiting the number of subscribers that may be reached by a cable system and the number of channels on a cable system that may be occupied by a video programmer in which a cable operator has attributable interest [sec. 11 (c) (2)]. - Prohibits a cable franchise authority from granting an exclusive franchise or unreasonably refusing to award an additional competitive franchise [sec. 7 (a)]. - Increases penalties for the theft of cable services (Sec. 21).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by President George Bush

Full Bill Text
Full Bill Text
Veto Letter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that applies additional regulations to cable operators, including monthly rates and customer service standards.

Highlights:

- Authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that basic cable rates for subscribers of a cable system that is not subject to effective competition do not exceed the rates for subscribers of a cable system that are subject to effective competition. This includes rates associated with the installation and lease of equipment used by subscribers to access basic cable and connections for additional televisions receivers [sec. 3 (623) (b) (1)]. - Requires the FCC to establish customer service standards within 180 days, and regularly review such regulations. These standards must include, at minimum, requirements governing office hours, telephone availability, installations, outages, service calls, and communications between the cable operator and subscriber [sec. 8 (632) (b)]. - Prohibits cable systems or other multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD) from retransmitting any part of a signal of a broadcast station without the direct consent of that station [sec. 6 (b) (1)]. - Requires cable operators to carry the signals of local commercial television stations, depending on the following conditions [sec. 4 (614) (a-b)]:

- A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels and 300 or fewer subscribers is not required to adhere to this requirement, provided that such a system does not delete any signal of a broadcast television station; - A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels and more than 300 subscribers must carry the signals of at least three local commercial stations; and - A cable operator with more than 12 activated channels must carry the signals of local commercial stations, up to a maximum of one-third of the aggregate number of usable activated channels of such system.

- Requires cable operators to carry the signals of noncommercial educational television stations, depending on the following conditions [sec. 5 (615) (a-e)]:

- A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels must carry the signal of one local noncommercial educational television station; - A cable operator with 13 to 36 activated channels must carry the signal of at least one local noncommercial educational television station but shall not be required to carry more than three; and - A cable operator with more than 36 activated channels must carry the signal of each noncommercial educational television station requesting coverage. However, beyond providing the signals of three such stations, the cable operator would not be required to carry signal of additional stations if such programming substantially duplicates the programming broadcast by another qualified local noncommercial educational television station requesting carriage.

- Prohibits cable operators from requiring a subscription to anything beyond basic service as a condition of a access to video programming offered on a per channel or per program basis. Cable operators are also prohibited from discriminating between subscribers depending on their level of subscription [sec. 3 (623) (b) (8)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within 180 days that prohibit discrimination by a satellite cable programming vendor or satellite broadcast programming vendor in the prices, terms, and conditions of sale or delivery of satellite cable programming or satellite broadcast programming among or between cable systems, cable operators, or other MVPDs, or their agents or buying groups [sec. 19 (628) (c) (2) (B)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within one year that prohibit cable operators or other MVPDs from requiring a financial interest in a program service as a condition for carriage on one or more of such operator's system [sec. 6 (642) (1)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within one year limiting the number of subscribers that may be reached by a cable system and the number of channels on a cable system that may be occupied by a video programmer in which a cable operator has attributable interest [sec. 11 (c) (2)]. - Prohibits a cable franchise authority from granting an exclusive franchise or unreasonably refusing to award an additional competitive franchise [sec. 7 (a)]. - Increases penalties for the theft of cable services (Sec. 21).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that applies additional regulations to cable operators, including monthly rates and customer service standards.

Highlights:

- Authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that basic cable rates for subscribers of a cable system that is not subject to effective competition do not exceed the rates for subscribers of a cable system that are subject to effective competition. This includes rates associated with the installation and lease of equipment used by subscribers to access basic cable and connections for additional televisions receivers [sec. 3 (623) (b) (1)]. - Requires the FCC to establish customer service standards within 180 days, and regularly review such regulations. These standards must include, at minimum, requirements governing office hours, telephone availability, installations, outages, service calls, and communications between the cable operator and subscriber [sec. 8 (632) (b)]. - Prohibits cable systems or other multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD) from retransmitting any part of a signal of a broadcast station without the direct consent of that station [sec. 6 (b) (1)]. - Requires cable operators to carry the signals of local commercial television stations, depending on the following conditions [sec. 4 (614) (a-b)]:

- A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels and 300 or fewer subscribers is not required to adhere to this requirement, provided that such a system does not delete any signal of a broadcast television station; - A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels and more than 300 subscribers must carry the signals of at least three local commercial stations; and - A cable operator with more than 12 activated channels must carry the signals of local commercial stations, up to a maximum of one-third of the aggregate number of usable activated channels of such system.

- Requires cable operators to carry the signals of noncommercial educational television stations, depending on the following conditions [sec. 5 (615) (a-e)]:

- A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels must carry the signal of one local noncommercial educational television station; - A cable operator with 13 to 36 activated channels must carry the signal of at least one local noncommercial educational television station but shall not be required to carry more than three; and - A cable operator with more than 36 activated channels must carry the signal of each noncommercial educational television station requesting coverage. However, beyond providing the signals of three such stations, the cable operator would not be required to carry signal of additional stations if such programming substantially duplicates the programming broadcast by another qualified local noncommercial educational television station requesting carriage.

- Prohibits cable operators from requiring a subscription to anything beyond basic service as a condition of a access to video programming offered on a per channel or per program basis. Cable operators are also prohibited from discriminating between subscribers depending on their level of subscription [sec. 3 (623) (b) (8)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within 180 days that prohibit discrimination by a satellite cable programming vendor or satellite broadcast programming vendor in the prices, terms, and conditions of sale or delivery of satellite cable programming or satellite broadcast programming among or between cable systems, cable operators, or other MVPDs, or their agents or buying groups [sec. 19 (628) (c) (2) (B)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within one year that prohibit cable operators or other MVPDs from requiring a financial interest in a program service as a condition for carriage on one or more of such operator's system [sec. 6 (642) (1)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within one year limiting the number of subscribers that may be reached by a cable system and the number of channels on a cable system that may be occupied by a video programmer in which a cable operator has attributable interest [sec. 11 (c) (2)]. - Prohibits a cable franchise authority from granting an exclusive franchise or unreasonably refusing to award an additional competitive franchise [sec. 7 (a)]. - Increases penalties for the theft of cable services (Sec. 21).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that applies additional regulations to cable operators, including monthly rates and customer service standards.

Highlights:

- Authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that basic cable rates are reasonable if the FCC determines that a cable system is not subject to effective competition. This includes rates associate with installation and rental of equipment and changes in service [sec. 5 (623) (b)]. - Requires the FCC to establish customer service standards within 180 days, and regularly review such regulations [sec. 10 (b)]. - Prohibits cable systems or other multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD) from retransmitting any part of a signal of a broadcast station without the direct consent of that station [sec. 15 (b) (1)]. - Requires cable operators to carry the signals of local commercial television stations, depending on the following conditions [sec. 16 (614) (a-b)]:

- A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels and 300 or fewer subscribers, is not required to adhere to this requirement, provided that such a system does not delete any signal of a broadcast television station; - A cable operator with 12 or fewer activated channels and more than 300 subscribers must carry the signals of at least three local commercial stations; and - A cable operator with more than 12 activated channels must carry the signals of local commercial stations, up to a maximum of one-third of the aggregate number of usable activated channels of such system.

- Prohibits video programmers licensed by a cable operator for distribution from refusing service to any MVPD or discrimination against another MVPD in price, terms, and sales conditions in such a way that would impede competition [sec. 6 (640) (a)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within one year that prohibits cable operators or other MVPDs from requiring a financial interest in a program service as a condition for carriage on one or more of such operator's system [sec. 6 (642) (1)]. - Requires the FCC to establish regulations within one year limiting the number of subscribers that may be reached by a cable system and the number of channels on a cable system that may be occupied by a video programmer in which a cable operator has attributable interest [sec. 8 (f) (1)]. - Prohibits a cable franchise authority from granting an exclusive franchise or unreasonably refusing to award an additional competitive franchise (sec. 20). - Requires the FCC to report to Congress within 90 days on the impact of the regulations established by this Act, including the effects on employment, economic competition, economic growth, international trade, customer welfare, and increased opportunities for small businesses (sec. 36).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text