# 116-hr-7782: Eliminating Local News Deserts Act of 2020

116-hr-7782, Eliminating Local News Deserts Act of 2020, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ); status Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7782
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-7782
- Congress: 116
- Title: Eliminating Local News Deserts Act of 2020
- Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced: 2020-07-24
- Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Eliminating Local News Deserts Act of 2020 This bill requires a cable company operating within a state to carry certain low power stations if, among other requirements, (1) the state has no exclusive, in-state broadcast television market within its boundaries; (2) there are no full power commercial network affiliates (i.e., ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX) that are licensed to, and principally operate within, the state; and (3) such low power station provides a minimum of 19 weekly hours of locally produced news, public affairs, and informational programming relevant to the residents and communities of the state.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (R-NJ), 2020-07-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ), 2020-09-04T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-8662: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act
- 116-hr-7642: Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act
- 116-hr-7292: The COVID-19 Hospital and Health Provider Loan Forgiveness Act of 2020
- 116-hr-7229: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1087 Route 47 South in Rio Grande, New Jersey, as the "Carlton H. Hand Post Office Bui…
- 116-hr-7230: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the…
- 116-hr-7092: Great American Outdoors Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-7782 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7782)

## Related
- [116-hr-8662: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8662)
- [116-hr-7642: Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7642)
- [116-hr-7292: The COVID-19 Hospital and Health Provider Loan Forgiveness Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7292)
- [116-hr-7229: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1087 R…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7229)
- [116-hr-7230: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7230)
- [116-hr-7092: Great American Outdoors Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7092)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7782 (as of 2025-11-18).