FCC cable, satellite rebates proposal overview:
- Who: FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced two proposals that would require cable and satellite companies to provide rebates to consumers following station blackouts caused by a failure to reach a programming agreement.
- Why: Rosenworcel argues consumers should not be prevented from watching services they paid for just because the cable and satellite companies haven’t made an agreement with a broadcast station or group owner.
- Where: The FCC proposals would affect consumers nationwide.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a pair of proposals that would require cable and satellite companies to provide rebates to customers in the event of a blackout that is caused by a failure to reach a programming deal.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the proposed rulemaking on Oct. 11, with the commission stating the proposals would further the commission’s “strategic goal to empower consumers in the media marketplace.”
“Enough with the blackouts,” Rosenworcel said. “When consumers with traditional cable and satellite service turn on the screen, they should get what they pay for.”
If adopted by a full FCC vote, the proposals would seek comment on the idea of requiring cable and satellite providers to offer rebates to consumers and notify the FCC of blackouts caused by their own failure to reach an agreement that last more than 24 hours.
FCC chair: Consumers owed refund after blackouts caused by failure to reach agreement
One proposal seeks comment on if and how cable and satellite companies should be required to provide rebates to consumers, in the event the blackouts are caused by a failure to reach a transmission consent agreement with broadcast stations or group owners.
The second proposed rulemaking seeks comment on an FCC proposal to require multichannel video program distributors to notify the commission via an online public portal when there is a blackout of more than 24 hours due to the aforementioned failure to reach an agreement.
“It’s not right when big companies battle it out and leave viewers without the ability to watch the local news, their favorite show, or the big game. If the screen stays dark, they deserve a refund,” Rosenworcel said.
The proposed rulemaking comes in the wake of a recent congressional hearing which revealed data showing that there have been an estimated 1,000 blackouts on cable and satellite stations since 2010, according to Law360.
In other news involving the FCC, the commission announced earlier this month that it intends to revert back to net neutrality rules that were previously created by the agency during the Obama administration.
What are your thoughts on the FCC proposals? Let us know in the comments.
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15 thoughts onFCC proposes requiring cable, satellite companies to issue rebates following blackouts
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Verizon blackouts are short but numerous and irritating,addd me
I filed a complaint with the FTC because my services never worked with Hughes Net. They took money and charged me for services that went out and froze 95 percent of the time the entire time of services. They then tried to charge me 4,000.00, after I asked them to come and remove the satellite, which they also refused.
How do I get in on this? We had Dish for several years and went almost a year with one of the major network channells. nnels. We left and went to DirectTV where the same thing happened. We are now with Xfinity and all seems well. T
Please add me Spectrum gave $6 credit which is nothing( afrer 2 weeks or more of having no access to quite a few channels because they were disputing with Disney, I argued with them but got nowhere told them it’s not our fault