Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025

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Latest Action

Jan 31, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries (1)

Introduced in House - Jan 31, 2025 00

Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025This bill requires cable and satellite broadcast providers to issue rebates to customers who are denied access to video programming included in their subscription because of programming negotiations. Specifically, where a provider’s negotiations related to the retransmission or carriage of video programming result in the provider failing to offer access to programming included in a customer’s subscription, the customer must be issued a rebate for the affected period. The Federal Communications Commission is directed to issue rules to this effect, including to establish the appropriate amount for such a rebate.

Actions (3)

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Type: IntroReferral | Source: House floor actions | Code: H11100

Jan 31, 2025

Introduced in House

Type: IntroReferral | Source: Library of Congress | Code: Intro-H

Jan 31, 2025

Introduced in House

Type: IntroReferral | Source: Library of Congress | Code: 1000

Jan 31, 2025

Subjects (1)

Science, Technology, Communications (Policy Area)

Cosponsors (5)

Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

(D-RI)
Feb 26, 2025

Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

(D-OR)
Feb 21, 2025

Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

(D-IN)
Jan 31, 2025

Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

(D-NJ)
Jan 31, 2025

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

(D-DC)
Jan 31, 2025

Text Versions (1)

Introduced in House

Jan 31, 2025

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Full Bill Text

Length: 2,938 characters Version: Introduced in House Version Date: Jan 31, 2025 Last Updated: Nov 14, 2025 6:27 AM

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 888 Introduced in House

(IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 888

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal
Communications Commission to promulgate regulations with respect to
rebates for certain video programming blackouts, and for other
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 31, 2025

Mr. Ryan (for himself, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Carson, and Ms. Norton)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal
Communications Commission to promulgate regulations with respect to
rebates for certain video programming blackouts, and for other
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1.

This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2.

Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 723.

``

(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate
regulations--
``

(1) to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of
such provider a rebate with respect to any period during which
the provider denies such subscriber, as a result of a covered
negotiation, access to video programming that such provider
agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as the
case may be), to provide to such subscriber during such period;
and
``

(2) to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate
issued under paragraph

(1) .
``

(b)

=== Definitions. === -In this section: `` (1) Covered negotiation.--The term `covered negotiation' means a negotiation with respect to-- `` (A) retransmission consent of a television broadcast station under

section 325 (b) ; or `` (B) carriage of video programming of an entity that is not a television broadcast station.

(b) ; or
``
(B) carriage of video programming of an entity
that is not a television broadcast station.
``

(2) Provider.--The term `provider' means either of the
following:
``
(A) A cable operator (as defined in

section 602).

``
(B) A provider of direct broadcast satellite
service (as defined in

section 335 (b) (5) ).

(b)

(5) ).
``

(3) Television broadcast station.--The term `television
broadcast station' has the meaning given such term in

section 325 (b) (7) .

(b)

(7) .
``

(4) Video programming.--The term `video programming' has
the meaning given such term in

section 602.

<all>

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 888 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 888

 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal 
 Communications Commission to promulgate regulations with respect to 
 rebates for certain video programming blackouts, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 January 31, 2025

 Mr. Ryan (for himself, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Carson, and Ms. Norton) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal 
 Communications Commission to promulgate regulations with respect to 
 rebates for certain video programming blackouts, and for other 
 purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. REBATES FOR VIDEO PROGRAMMING BLACKOUTS.

 Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 723. REBATES FOR VIDEO PROGRAMMING BLACKOUTS.

 ``

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate 
regulations--
 ``

    (1) to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of 
 such provider a rebate with respect to any period during which 
 the provider denies such subscriber, as a result of a covered 
 negotiation, access to video programming that such provider 
 agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as the 
 case may be), to provide to such subscriber during such period; 
 and
 ``

    (2) to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate 
 issued under paragraph

    (1) .
 ``

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Covered negotiation.--The term `covered negotiation' 
 means a negotiation with respect to--
 ``
        (A) retransmission consent of a television 
 broadcast station under 

section 325

    (b) ; or
 ``
        (B) carriage of video programming of an entity 
 that is not a television broadcast station.
 ``

    (2) Provider.--The term `provider' means either of the 
 following:
 ``
        (A) A cable operator (as defined in 

section 602).
 ``
        (B) A provider of direct broadcast satellite 
 service (as defined in 

section 335

    (b)

    (5) ).
 ``

    (3) Television broadcast station.--The term `television 
 broadcast station' has the meaning given such term in 

section 325

    (b)

    (7) .
 ``

    (4) Video programming.--The term `video programming' has 
 the meaning given such term in 

section 602.''.
 <all>

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119-hr888