2009_1123_Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

• ,. ` �:r; .� - �� a 1� ��1 '� Ms. BALDyVIN introduced the follow�ng bil1, whic� was �re£ez-�ed to tkze Co�a�zttee on Ezzergy a�d Conam.erce � B��i., To a�nenc� the Communications Aet of 1934 to �rovide for carriage and dzsp�ay o�'public, educatiozxal, atzd gov�zx�nrzent channels in a manner eon��steni with corrimercial c�annels, and far oth�r p�rposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House afRepYesentatives of t�ie United States afAme�ica in CongYess ctssenabled, �yx�3�C�P��'�Ts7:�i��`�� This Act z�ay be czted as t�a 'Cor�a�a�.nz�y Access Preservation Act' or the 'CAP Ac�'. . � (a) In General- S�ct�on 611 o£ihe Co�u.nicat�a�s Aet o£ � 934 (47 U.S.C. 531) zs arzaen�e�.-- {�.) by xedesign.aiing subseet�on (� as subseciion (�Z); and {2} by i�s�rt�ng after subsection {e) the follovving new subsec�ions: �(� Equivalence� '(�) �N GEN�RAL- � t�e case o£a�.y .fra�c�zse under whie� chanza.el capacity is designat�d. under subsection {b}, such chan�iel capacity shal� he-- '{A) af Ieast equiva�ent in c�uality, accesszbality, fi�;�ct�onalzty, and ��ace�aae�t ta-- `(z) c�annel ca�aac�ty used �oz requized cazxzage o£Xocal cos��ercial televzsza� statioz�s, as de�inec� i�a sect�a� 6�.4{h)(1); ar '(ii) if �o such sta�ioa�s are req�ired ta l�e carried, the c�annel ca�aeiiy �sed in ca�ry �he �rimary signal af �he ne�orl�-affiliated commercial �eTevision sta�ic�iis carrie� on the cab�e systez�; a�� '(B) provided to and vier7vable l�y every s�bscriber of a eab1� systei� withou.� aclditional service or eq�i�ment charges. '(2) S�GNAL QUALITY AND CONTENT- A ca�le operatar shall-- '(A) cazry signals for public, educa�ional, or governn�ental use frorr� the poin� of orrg��t of such signals to subscril�ers �nrithou�: material c�egrada�ion and wit�io�t altering or re�noving cn�tent prn�ide� as part of the public, edueational, ar gc�vernmental use; and '(B) �rovic�e facili�ies adequa�e tQ fialfill such requirements. '(3) WA�VER- The zequiren�ents of para�raph (1) may be waived by a franchasz�g authorz�y if tk�e franek�zse ca�taiz�s aa� e�pliczt p�ovision tk�at s�ck� �eq�irez�ae�ts shall not apply a�ad such �ravisior� was a�o�te� after a�roceeding the coz�duct o��vhich af�orded the public adequate no�ice and an opporh�ni�y to participa�e. '(4) �NFO�t.CEMENT� The requirements of this ,subsection may be enforcec� by a franc�zsing authori�y or by tne Co�ission. �(5) A�DDITIONAL REQUIREN.[ENTS- Nothing in this s�bsec�ion preve�ts a franc�ising a�t�o�ity froza� establi,s�i�g add'ztinnal requirernent,s wit� respect tn t�e q�alit�, accessibility, functionaiity, p�aceznent, ar�d �rov�sion a� cha��el capacity desig�ated for p�blic, educaiional, or govex�men�al use, `(g)1'reservatio� of Public, Ed�eationa�, and Governmental U�e- '(I) STUDY- ViTitkai�. �80 days after i�e date of e�actrz�.e�t o�tkze Coz�a�n:unity Acc�ss P�reservatioz� Act, the Commis�ion s�all submit �o Congress a repart containirzg--