118th Congress Science, Technology, Communications
S. 340: Protecting Community Television Act
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- Passed House (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill limits the scope of the franchise fee paid by cable operators to encompass only a tax, fee, or other monetary assessment. (This fee is charged by a state or local authority for a franchise that a cable operator must obtain in order to provide its services in a particular area.)
Historically, the franchise fee, which is capped at 5% of the franchise holder's gross revenues from providing cable services, did not include certain in-kind contributions and other costs, including some costs that support public, educational, and governmental (PEG) access channels. However, under a rule adopted on August 1, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission included most cable-related in-kind contributions and costs for PEG channels (except for certain capital costs) paid by new entrants and incumbent cable operators as part of the franchise fee, and therefore subject to the cap. This bill excludes those contributions and costs from the cap.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Tammy Baldwin D-WIOriginal
- Richard Blumenthal D-CTOriginal
- Benjamin Cardin D-MDOriginal
- Dianne Feinstein D-CAOriginal
- Mazie Hirono D-HIOriginal
- Amy Klobuchar D-MNOriginal
- Angus King I-MEOriginal
- Christopher Murphy D-CTOriginal
- Jeff Merkley D-OROriginal
- Bernard Sanders I-VTOriginal
- Charles Schumer D-NYOriginal
- Jeanne Shaheen D-NHOriginal
- Brian Schatz D-HIOriginal
- Tina Smith D-MNOriginal
- Ron Wyden D-OROriginal
- Peter Welch D-VTOriginal
- Elizabeth Warren D-MAOriginal
- Cory Booker D-NJ
- Kirsten Gillibrand D-NY
Who scored on this bill
- 1Edward Markey SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced2 events+6
See all scorers and every scoring event
Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
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History
- Introduced in the Senate by Edward Markey.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
- Introduced in Senate
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.