Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984

Summary

Cable Telecommunications Act of 1983 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to set forth provisions governing cable telecommunications. Grants the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) jurisdiction over broadband telecommunications in accordance with this Act and other applicable laws. Grants State and local governments the authority to award cable franchises within their jurisdictions in accordance with this Act. Prohibits any Federal agency, State or local government, or franchising authority from prohibiting any person from owning cable systems by reason of that person's ownership of other media interests. Specifies exceptions to such prohibition to: (1) allow enforcement of Federal antitrust laws; and (2) prohibit any State or local government from acquiring an ownership interest in any cable system at less than fair market value. Prohibits any such government that does acquire a cable system from owning or controlling the programming, except as specified in this Act. Authorizes the FCC to conduct inquiries and submit information to the U.S. Trade Representative concerning the access U.S. cable enterprises have to markets in countries of foreign persons who seek access to U.S. cable markets. Requires cable systems with 20 or more television broadcast channels to set aside ten percent of such channels for use by public, educational, or governmental channel programmers. Requires the channels to be set aside until the FCC determines that there are reasonably available alternatives for providing such programming service in a particular geographic area or market. Sets forth the criteria for determining whether there are reasonably available alternatives in the relevant area or market. Authorizes the franchisor to establish rules for the use of the channels set aside. Authorizes the cable system operator to combine public, educational, governmental, and other programming on one or more channels until there is a demand for each channel full time for its designated use. Declares that it is not necessary to modify a cable franchise agreement which was made before January 26, 1983, and which sets aside more than ten percent of its channels for public, educational, or governmental channel programming. Authorizes each State or local government, agency, or franchising authority to fix the rates charged for basic cable service and for public, educational, or governmental service. Terminates such rate-fixing authority for basic service when the FCC determines, according to specified criteria, that there are reasonably available alternatives to basic service programing in the relevant area or market. Prohibits Federal, State, or local regulation of the provision of or nature of: (1) cable services offered over a cable system; and (2) telecommunications facilities or services, other than telephone service, offered by or over a cable system. Directs the FCC to establish a reasonable ceiling for the franchise fees charged by a State or local government, agency, or franchising authority. Requires the ceilings to permit only the recovery of the cost of regulating the cable system. Authorizes the FCC to waive the ceiling if the reasonable cost of regulation exceeds the ceiling and the waiver will not interfere with Federal policies. Requires franchisors to permit renewal or extension of a cable system operator's franchise if: (1) the operator has substantially complied with the material terms of such franchise; (2) the operator's qualifications have not materially changed; and (3) the services and facilities provided by the operator meet the community needs. Prohibits unauthorized interception or reception of broadband telecommunications. Prohibits any cable operator, channel programmer, or originator of broadband telecommunications from using the cable system to collect personnally identifiable information on a cable subscriber without the written consent of the subscriber. Permits the collection of such information solely for billing purposes or for monitoring unauthorized receptions of cable telecommunications. Requires such information to be destroyed when it is no longer used for such purposes. Prohibits the disclosure of such information without the consent of the subscriber or a court order authorizing such disclosure. Requires cable operators to notify subscribers of their rights under the privacy provisions of this Act. Requires each subscriber to have access to all of their personally identifiable information collected and maintained by a cable operator, channel programmer, or originator of broadband telecommunications. Authorizes civil damages for violations of these privacy provisions. States that cable operators have no liability for programs on public, educational, or governmental channels or for programs required to be carried on any other channel. Grants the Government exclusive jurisdiction over broadband telecommunications regarding matters covered by this Act. Directs the FCC to encourage the introduction of new and additional services by new applicants, existing licensees, or other persons. Creates a presumption that new services are in the public interest if the FCC finds that such services are technically feasible without causing significant technical degradation to or interference with radio transmissions by other licensees. Sets forth the manner of filing petitions or applications for providing new services.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 26 January 1983

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 26 January 1983

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 16 February 1983

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Communications. Hearings held.

   Source: Committee

4. 17 February 1983

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Communications. Hearings concluded. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-26.

   Source: Committee

5. 22 March 1983

   Committee

   Committee on Commerce. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

   Source: Committee

6. 21 April 1983

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

7. 27 April 1983

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 106.

   Source: Calendars

8. 27 April 1983

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Packwood with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 98-67.

   Source: Committee

9. 27 April 1983

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Packwood with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 98-67.

   Source: Committee

10. 13 June 1983

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

    Source: Floor

11. 14 June 1983

    Floor

    Considered by Senate.

    Source: Floor

12. 14 June 1983

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 87-9. Record Vote No: 143.

    Source: Floor

13. 16 June 1983

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

14. 23 June 1983

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance.

    Source: Committee

15. 1 October 1984

    ResolvingDifferences

    House Requested a Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Dingell, Wirth, Broyhill.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

16. 1 October 1984

    ResolvingDifferences

    House Insisted on its Amendments by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

17. 1 October 1984

    NotUsed

    Resolving differences -- House actions: House Insisted on its Amendments by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: NotUsed

18. 1 October 1984

    Floor

    House Incorporated H.R.4103 in This Measure as an Amendment.

    Source: Floor

19. 1 October 1984

    Passed

    Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

20. 1 October 1984

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

21. 1 October 1984

    Floor

    Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

22. 1 October 1984

    Discharge

    House Committee on Energy and Commerce Discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Discharge

23. 1 October 1984

    Committee

    House Committee on Energy and Commerce Discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Committee

24. 11 October 1984

    ResolvingDifferences

    Senate concurred in the House amendments with amendments by Voice Vote.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

25. 11 October 1984

    Passed

    House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

26. 11 October 1984

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- House actions: House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.

    Source: NotUsed

27. 11 October 1984

    NotUsed

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate concurred in the House amendments with amendments by Voice Vote.

    Source: NotUsed

28. 11 October 1984

    Floor

    Considered by Senate.

    Source: Floor

29. 18 October 1984

    Floor

    Measure Signed in Senate.

    Source: Floor

30. 19 October 1984

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

31. 19 October 1984

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

32. 30 October 1984

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

33. 30 October 1984

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

34. 30 October 1984

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 98-549.

    Source: President

Votes

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

6 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 31 October 1984

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Senate agreed to House amendment with amendment

  summary · EN · 11 October 1984

  Open at official source

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 1 October 1984

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• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 14 June 1983

  Open at official source

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  Vertaal document

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 27 April 1983

  Open at official source

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  Vertaal document

  Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 26 January 1983

  Open at official source

  Leesvertaling

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  Vertaal document

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Sponsors

• Sen. Goldwater, Barry [R-AZ] · R · Sponsor
• · hsif00 · Standing
• · sscm00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Cable Franchise Policy and Communications Act of 1984
• amends ← To provide for the requirement of access by public and educational users in addition to governmental users.
• amends ← To limit the level of automatic rate increases in rates for basic cable service.
• amends ← To require renegotiation of a cable operator's commitment to provide particular facilities and equipment where a significant change in circumstances makes their provision impracticable.
• amends ← To retain the regulation of rates for basic cable service in areas where 80 percent or more of the households in a service area subscribe.
• amends ← To delete the requirement that judicial review be de nono where the franchising authority complies with a fair and adequate administrative procedure.
• amends ← To delay the time requiring a franchising authority to consider an application for franchise renewal.
• amends ← To provide that cable operators may not automatically increase rates annually.
• amends ← To modify renewals and extension procedures and limit review of such procedures.

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