Markey, Baldwin, Eshoo Refile PEG Bill to 2019 FCC Cable Franchise Fees Order
A trio of top Democrats on the House and Senate Commerce committees refiled the Protecting Community Television Act Thursday in a bid to ensure continued resources for public, educational and governmental programming (see 2001210064). The measure, first filed in 2020,…
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would undo the FCC’s 2019 cable TV local franchise authority order (see 1908010011). PCTA's sponsors -- Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Rep. Anna Eshoo of California -- believe the 2019 order would treat cable operators' in-kind contributions required by LFAs as franchise fees and subject to a cap. "At a time when cable news and media have become more consolidated than ever before, we must work to uphold local access to" PEG channels "for every household in our country," Markey said: Community TV is "a service which millions of Americans rely on to keep up with the news that matters most to them, stay plugged into enriching, educational programming, and hold their local governments to account." The FCC's adoption of the LFA order under then-Chairman Ajit Pai has "hurt public, educational, and governmental television, and this harms communities," Eshoo said: PCTA will "reverse these harmful agency actions and protect community television by ensuring local voices have the platform they deserve.” The lawmakers noted backing from the Alliance for Community Media, MassAccess, National Association of Counties, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors and National League of Cities.