First Reviews Are In: Video CHOICE Act Would End TV Blackouts, Provide Greater Consumer Flexibility

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, released a draft discussion bill this week to address pitfalls in the current TV programming market. The Video CHOICE (Consumers Have Options in Choosing Entertainment) Act would eliminate television blackouts caused by retransmission consent disputes and give consumers greater flexibility to choose the channels they receive each month from their pay-TV provider. The reactions from key stakeholder groups have been positive.

John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud, National Consumers League (NCL): "Consumers should not be the pawns in the never-ending games of chicken between multi-billion dollar cable companies and broadcast networks. The increasing frequency of television blackouts – 91 in 2012 alone and 80 already this year – demonstrate that the current legal framework regarding retransmission consent is broken. The Video CHOICE Act recognizes this and seeks to implement a range of reforms. We look forward to a thorough debate on the proposals raised by Congresswoman Eshoo."

Peter Davidson, Senior Vice-president of Federal Government Affairs, Verizon: "Representative Eshoo's legislation highlights the need to fix a broken retransmission consent system that now too often leaves consumers in the dark. We look forward to working with Representative Eshoo and other members of Congress who believe that consumers would be well served by reforming this outdated system."

AT&T: "We applaud Representative Eshoo for seeking to ensure consumers are protected during retransmission consent disputes. As the legislation moves forward, we pledge to work with Rep. Eshoo and others to update a system that oftentimes leads to unnecessary consumer frustrations."

Genny Morelli, President, Independent Telephone & Telecommunications Alliance (ITTA): "ITTA applauds Congresswoman Eshoo's efforts to reform the outdated retransmission consent rules with release today of the Video [CHOICE] Act of 2013...The key provisions of the Video CHOICE Act are an important first step toward comprehensive, necessary, and long overdue reform of the video marketplace."

John Bergmayer, Senior Staff Attorney, Public Knowledge: "Ranking Member Eshoo's discussion draft empowers the FCC to protect consumers' ability to access content during these disputes, and, like the McCain/Blumenthal Bill provides greater choices for consumers in their pay-TV subscription packages. I encourage other members to work with her to move this draft towards introduction."

Jeffrey Blum, Deputy General Counsel, DISH: "We applaud Ranking Member Eshoo for introducing the Video CHOICE Act. Critically, the discussion draft proposes concrete legislative ideas to give consumers greater choice over their programming, tackles the growing problem of bundling of cable channels with network channels, and empowers the FCC with significant authority to curtail blackouts. We look forward to working with Ranking Member Eshoo to ensure that meaningful legislation is passed this Congress to fix the broken retransmission consent system."

American Television Alliance: "[Rep. Eshoo's] voice is the latest in an every-growing chorus calling for retrans reform and her bill is a step in the right direction. Consumers continue to be hit with more and more blackouts and we encourage Congress to consider reform immediately."

Matthew M. Polka, President and CEO, American Cable Association (ACA): "To her great credit, Rep. Eshoo has proposed a set of commonsense reforms. ACA agrees that the nation's top media regulator—the Federal Communications Commission—should have the authority to prevent TV signal blackouts as part of its mandate to protect the public interest, convenience and necessity. We also agree with Rep. Eshoo that consumers should not have to buy local TV stations that elect retransmission consent as part of their pay-TV package."

Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, The Rural Broadband Association (NTCA): "I commend Congresswoman Eshoo for introducing this legislative proposal to address many of the problems that exist with our country's current retransmission consent rules... My hope is that this bill will serve as a catalyst for more discussion of how we can bring retransmission rules in line with modern-day consumer preferences and ensure that access to video programming continues to serve as a stimulant to broadband adoption."

James Campbell, Regional Vice President of Public Policy, CenturyLink: "[W]e commend Ranking Member Eshoo for her leadership in circulating a discussion draft of The Video Choice Act. [It is] an essential element in a process that Congress must begin soon."

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