Legislative Update: Access to Arkansas News & Sports

Statement

Ross Provision Passes, "Critical First Step' to Local Channel Access

Thousands of Arkansans who live near our state's border share a common frustration when they turn on their televisions: another state's news and sports. Times are tough enough and cable and satellite bills keep getting higher. So why should you be forced to pay for another state's programming? This is an unfortunate reality for too many Arkansas families.

Across Arkansas's Fourth Congressional District, I am constantly asked why Arkansas residents cannot watch Arkansas channels and programming, such as Arkansas Razorback football games. Unfortunately, outdated laws do not allow many in our state the opportunity to watch in-state news. Current law specifies that television broadcast stations be transmitted primarily within their designated market area (DMA). Because of these laws, many people cannot receive the local channels of the state in which they live and work and are left watching the channels of a neighboring state.

The time has come to stop delivering 21st century technologies with 1950s business practices. Americans should not be bound by outdated laws that prevent them from receiving their home state programming. Everyone who wishes to receive their local channels in their home state should have the option to do so.

Last week, I was proud to achieve our first legislative victory in eliminating this incredibly frustrating reality for Arkansas families. The U.S. House of Representatives finally passed a key provision I sponsored that will require the Federal Communications Commission to examine the nation's DMA system and explore alternatives that would allow local markets the freedom to provide consumers with more in-state programming. The provision was included in final language agreed to by the House and Senate Commerce and Judiciary Committees and unveiled as S. 3333, the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010. The legislation passed the Senate on May 7, 2010, and the President is expected to sign the bill into law.

As a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, this is an issue I have worked on for several years now. My provision, Section 304 of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act, gives the FCC 18 months to issue a report to Congress analyzing the number of households that receive local broadcast stations from a station licensed in another state, the extent to which consumers have access to in-state programming and whether alternatives exist to the current DMA system that would provide consumers with more in-state programming.

People who work and pay taxes in Arkansas should be able to watch Arkansas news, weather and sports and too many in Arkansas are denied that option. This FCC study will require the federal agency to look into this problem and is a critical first step to helping ensure all Arkansans have access to Arkansas programming.

However, we still have a long fight ahead until this problem is fully resolved. Last year, I also introduced bipartisan legislation, the Local Television Freedom Act of 2009, H.R. 3216, that would have directly given satellite and cable companies the ability to provide subscribers not only the local channels within their DMA, but also the local channels of an adjacent in-state DMA. The bill's intent was to give customers who live near a state's border the option to receive local channels from their home state and watch the news and sports important to them. I remain committed to pursuing this legislation, which I believe will fix this problem once and for all.

All Arkansans should have the option to watch Arkansas programming. Right now, that freedom to choose is denied to too many Arkansans who already pay expensive cable and satellite bills. I will continue fighting on your behalf and for legislation that would get rid of outdated regulations and would finally give you and your family more freedom and more choices.

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