§537a — Title 47 Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs | U.S. Code

Summary

Multichannel video programming distributors may not be forced to carry or give channel space to video programming that is owned, controlled, or paid for, even partly, by the Government of the Russian Federation. That includes content from local commercial TV stations, qualified noncommercial educational stations, or other broadcast stations. They also cannot be required to do this as a condition of getting permission to retransmit a station’s signal. Defined terms, briefly: local commercial television station — a local for‑profit TV station; multichannel video programming distributor — a cable, satellite, or similar company that offers many channels; qualified noncommercial educational television station — a noncommercial educational TV station; retransmission consent — permission to retransmit a station’s signal; television broadcast station — a broadcast TV station under FCC rules. Stations may still use such Russian‑linked programming for editorial purposes.

Title 47, §537a

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section—

(1)the term “local commercial television station” has the meaning given the term in section 534(h) of this title;

(2)the term “multichannel video programming distributor” has the meaning given the term in section 522 of this title;

(3)the term “qualified noncommercial educational television station” has the meaning given the term in section 535(l) of this title;

(4)the term “retransmission consent” means the authority granted to a multichannel video programming distributor under section 325(b) of this title 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)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 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)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.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.

§537a Carriage of certain programming

Summary

Title 47, §537a

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata