S.328 - Stop Sports Blackouts Act (119th Congress)
Summary
The Stop Sports Blackouts Act (S.328) aims to amend the Communications Act of 1934 by directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create regulations regarding rebates for video programming blackouts. These blackouts typically occur during covered negotiations, such as retransmission consent or carriage disputes, between providers and broadcasters. The bill seeks to ensure that subscribers receive rebates when they are denied access to video programming they were originally promised.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to mandate that video programming providers issue rebates to subscribers when programming is blacked out due to negotiation disputes. This would likely increase consumer satisfaction and potentially incentivize providers to resolve disputes more quickly. The FCC would be responsible for establishing the specific regulations and rebate amounts.
Potential Benefits
- Consumer Financial Relief: Subscribers would receive rebates for programming they pay for but cannot access due to blackouts.
- Increased Provider Accountability: Providers would be held accountable for service disruptions caused by negotiation disputes.
- Potential for Faster Dispute Resolution: The financial pressure of issuing rebates may encourage providers to resolve disputes more efficiently.
- Fairness and Transparency: The regulations would promote fairness in the video programming market by ensuring subscribers receive value for their money.
- Reduced Consumer Frustration: Rebates can help mitigate the frustration experienced by subscribers when their favorite sports or shows are blacked out.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Administrative Burden: Providers may face increased administrative costs associated with tracking blackouts and issuing rebates.
- Potential for Increased Subscription Costs: Providers might attempt to offset rebate costs by raising subscription prices.
- Complexity in Implementation: Determining the appropriate rebate amount and eligibility criteria could be complex and lead to disputes.
- Limited Scope: The bill only addresses blackouts due to covered negotiations, potentially excluding other causes of service disruption.
- Unintended Consequences: Regulations could inadvertently affect negotiations between providers and broadcasters, potentially leading to fewer programming options.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Video programming and communication services fall under this purview. The bill does not seem to infringe upon any specific individual rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).