U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced the Viewer and Listener Protection Act of 2017 into Congress. S.1632 establishes a fund within the U.S. Treasury to ensure certain broadcasters affected by the TV spectrum repack can stay on the air.
“I remain very concerned that rural America will be disproportionately harmed if Congress does not take action to provide adequate resources and an appropriate timeline for the relocation of TV and radio stations,” announced Moran. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Todd Young (R-IN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tom Udall (D-CO) co-sponsored the measure.
If passed, the measure provides a way for radio stations affected by the television repack to recoup their moving costs as well. Currently moving costs for radio stations that share towers with TV stations that have to move to a different channel are not part of the $1.75 billion Congress allocated for repack reimbursement.
The allocation will be used only if the money Congress allocated for repack costs are exceeded. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told lawmakers this week, the agency believes the costs will go over $2.1 billion. The bill would also direct the FCC to modify the transition period for a specific television station if necessary to ensure that no broadcaster is forced to go off-air for a significant period of time.
NAB hailed the measure. “This bill addresses the nearly $400 million shortfall in the $1.75 billion repack fund,” said NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith. “It also makes clear that no broadcaster will be forced off the air if it makes a good faith effort to meet FCC deadlines.”
July 28, 2017
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