FEDERAL · 47 U.S.C. · Chapter SUBCHAPTER III—SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RADIO
Carriage of distant television stations by satellite carriers
47 U.S.C. § 339
This text of 47 U.S.C. § 339 (Carriage of distant television stations by satellite carriers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Bluebook
47 U.S.C. § 339.
Text
(a)Provisions relating to carriage of distant signals
Subject to section 119 of title 17, any satellite carrier shall be permitted to provide the signals of no more than two network stations in a single day for each television network to any household not located within the local markets of those network stations.
In addition to signals provided under subparagraph (A), any satellite carrier may also provide service under the statutory license of section 122 of title 17, to the local market within which such household is located. The service provided under section 122 of such title may be in addition to the two signals provided under section 119 of such title.
Notwithstanding any other provision of paragraph (1), the following rules shall apply after December 8, 2004:
In the case of a subs
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Related
Echostar Satellite L.L.C. v. Federal Communications Commission
457 F.3d 31 (D.C. Circuit, 2006)
CBS Broadcasting, Inc. v. Echostar Communications Corp.
532 F.3d 1294 (Eleventh Circuit, 2008)
Minority Television Project, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission
736 F.3d 1192 (Ninth Circuit, 2013)
EchoStar Satel v. FCC
(D.C. Circuit, 2006)
Minority Television Project, I v. FCC
(Ninth Circuit, 2013)
Source Credit
History
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, §339, as added Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title I, §1008(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–534; amended Pub. L. 106–553, §1(a)(2) [title X, §1001, formerly §1008], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2762, 2762A–140, renumbered §1001, Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, §6603(3), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4777; Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title II, §§204, 209], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3416, 3429; Pub. L. 111–175, title II, §204(b), May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1246; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title IV, §402(i)(7), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1090.)
Editorial Notes
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 119(e) of title 17, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A), was repealed and section 119(f) was redesignated section 119(e) by Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title XI, §1102(a)(4), (6), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3203.
The date of enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2)(B)(ii), (C), (D)(ii), and (c)(3), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 111–175, which shall be deemed to refer to Feb. 27, 2010, see section 307(a) of Pub. L. 111–175, set out as an Effective Date of 2010 Amendment note under section 111 of Title 17, Copyrights.
Section 119(d)(10) of title 17, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2)(D)(i)(III) and (c)(2), (4)(A), was amended by Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title XI, §1102(a)(3)(A), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3202, such that subpars. (A) and (B) were repealed, former subpar. (D) was redesignated (A), and a new subpar. (B) was enacted.
Section 119(a)(12) of title 17, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(G), was redesignated first as section 119(a)(11) of title 17 by Pub. L. 111–175, title I, §102(h)(1)(B), May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1224, and subsequently as section 119(a)(8) of title 17 by Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title XI, §1102(a)(1)(C), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3202.
Amendments
2018—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115–141 struck out par. (1) which related to study of digital strength testing procedures.
2010—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(A), which directed amendment of subpar. (B) by striking out " 'Such two network stations' and all that follows through 'more than two network stations.' ", was executed by striking out concluding provisions which read "Such two network stations may be comprised of both the analog signal and digital signal of not more than two network stations.", to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(i), struck out "to analog signals" after "subscribers" in heading.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(ii)(I), (II), struck out "analog" before "signals" in heading, substituted "signal" for "analog signal" wherever appearing, and, in introductory provisions, substituted "October 1, 2009" for "October 1, 2004".
Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(ii)(III), (IV), struck out "analog" before "signals" in heading, substituted "signal" for "analog signal" wherever appearing in text, and substituted "2009" for "2004".
Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iii), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) related to rules for other subscribers to analog signals.
Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iv)(I), which directed striking out "analog", was executed by striking out "analog" before "signal" in introductory provisions, to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the subsequent amendment of cl. (ii) by Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III). See below.
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(i). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iv)(II), substituted "the date of the enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 and, at the time such person seeks to subscribe to receive such secondary transmission, resides in a local market where the satellite carrier makes available to that person the signal of a local network station affiliated with the same television network pursuant to section 338 of this title (and the retransmission of such signal by such carrier can reach such subscriber); or" for "December 8, 2004; and".
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III), amended cl. (ii) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "at the time such person seeks to subscribe to receive such secondary transmission, resides in a local market where the satellite carrier makes available to that person the analog signal of a local network station affiliated with the same television network pursuant to section 338 of this title, and the retransmission of such signal by such carrier can reach such subscriber."
Subsec. (a)(2)(D). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(I), struck out "digital" before "signals" in heading.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(i). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(IV), amended cl. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (i) related to signal testing for digital signals.
Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), (III), redesignated and reordered cl. (vi) as (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which related to eligibility.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(ii). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(V), struck out "digital" before "signal" in heading and in two places in text, struck out ", whether or not such subscriber elects to subscribe to local digital signals" before the period, and substituted "Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010" for "Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004".
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), (VI), added cl. (iii) and struck out former cl. (iii) which related to local-to-local analog markets.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(iv). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), (VII), redesignated cl. (x) as (iv) and struck out former cl. (iv) which related to local-to-local digital markets.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(v). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), struck out cl. (v) which related to non-local-to-local markets.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(vi). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(III), redesignated cl. (vi) as (i).
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(vii) to (ix). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), struck out cls. (vii) to (ix) which related to trigger events for use of testing, testing waivers, and a special waiver provision for translators, respectively.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(x). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(VII), redesignated cl. (x) as (iv).
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(xi). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), struck out cl. (xi) which defined "emergency response providers".
Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(vi), substituted "distant signal" for "distant analog signal or distant digital signal (within the meaning of subparagraph (A), (B), or (D))".
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(2)(A), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Within 180 days after November 29, 1999, the Commission shall take all actions necessary, including any reconsideration, to develop and prescribe by rule a point-to-point predictive model for reliably and presumptively determining the ability of individual locations to receive signals in accordance with the signal intensity standard in effect under section 119(d)(10)(A) of title 17. In prescribing such model, the Commission shall rely on the Individual Location Longley-Rice model set forth by the Federal Communications Commission in Docket No. 98–201 and ensure that such model takes into account terrain, building structures, and other land cover variations. The Commission shall establish procedures for the continued refinement in the application of the model by the use of additional data as it becomes available."
Subsec. (c)(4)(A). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(2)(B), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "If a subscriber's request for a waiver under paragraph (2) is rejected and the subscriber submits to the subscriber's satellite carrier a request for a test verifying the subscriber's inability to receive a signal that meets the signal intensity standard in effect under section 119(d)(10)(A) of title 17, the satellite carrier and the network station or stations asserting that the retransmission is prohibited with respect to that subscriber shall select a qualified and independent person to conduct a test in accordance with section 73.686(d) of its regulations (47 CFR 73.686(d)), or any successor regulation. Such test shall be conducted within 30 days after the date the subscriber submits a request for the test. If the written findings and conclusions of a test conducted in accordance with such section (or any successor regulation) demonstrate that the subscriber does not receive a signal that meets or exceeds the signal intensity standard in effect under section 119(d)(10)(A) of title 17, the subscriber shall not be denied the retransmission of a signal of a network station under section 119 of title 17."
Subsec. (c)(4)(B). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(2)(C), substituted "such requisite signal intensity standard" for "the signal intensity standard in effect under section 119(d)(10)(A) of title 17".
Subsec. (c)(4)(E). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(2)(D), struck out "Grade B intensity" before "signal."
2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–447, §204(a)(1), inserted at end "Such two network stations may be comprised of both the analog signal and digital signal of not more than two network stations."
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 108–447, §204(a)(3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–447, §204(a)(4), which directed amendment of par. (3) by inserting ", except that paragraph (2)(D) of this subsection, relating to the provision of distant digital signals, shall be enforceable under the provisions of section 340(f) of this title" at end, was executed by making the insertion before period at end, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 108–447, §204(a)(2), redesignated par. (2) as (3).
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 108–447, §204(b), added par. (1) and struck out heading and text of former par. (1). Text read as follows: "For the purposes of identifying an unserved household under section 119(d)(10) of title 17, within 1 year after November 29, 1999, the Commission shall conclude an inquiry to evaluate all possible standards and factors for determining eligibility for retransmissions of the signals of network stations, and, if appropriate—
"(A) recommend modifications to the Grade B intensity standard for analog signals set forth in section 73.683(a) of its regulations (47 CFR 73.683(a)), or recommend alternative standards or factors for purposes of determining such eligibility; and
"(B) make a further recommendation relating to an appropriate standard for digital signals."
Subsec. (c)(4)(D), (E). Pub. L. 108–447, §209, added subpars. (D) and (E).
2000—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 106–553 added par. (5).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–175 effective Feb. 27, 2010, see section 307(a) of Pub. L. 111–175, set out as a note under section 111 of Title 17, Copyrights.
References in Text
Section 119(e) of title 17, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A), was repealed and section 119(f) was redesignated section 119(e) by Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title XI, §1102(a)(4), (6), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3203.
The date of enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2)(B)(ii), (C), (D)(ii), and (c)(3), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 111–175, which shall be deemed to refer to Feb. 27, 2010, see section 307(a) of Pub. L. 111–175, set out as an Effective Date of 2010 Amendment note under section 111 of Title 17, Copyrights.
Section 119(d)(10) of title 17, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2)(D)(i)(III) and (c)(2), (4)(A), was amended by Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title XI, §1102(a)(3)(A), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3202, such that subpars. (A) and (B) were repealed, former subpar. (D) was redesignated (A), and a new subpar. (B) was enacted.
Section 119(a)(12) of title 17, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(G), was redesignated first as section 119(a)(11) of title 17 by Pub. L. 111–175, title I, §102(h)(1)(B), May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1224, and subsequently as section 119(a)(8) of title 17 by Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title XI, §1102(a)(1)(C), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3202.
Amendments
2018—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115–141 struck out par. (1) which related to study of digital strength testing procedures.
2010—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(A), which directed amendment of subpar. (B) by striking out " 'Such two network stations' and all that follows through 'more than two network stations.' ", was executed by striking out concluding provisions which read "Such two network stations may be comprised of both the analog signal and digital signal of not more than two network stations.", to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(i), struck out "to analog signals" after "subscribers" in heading.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(ii)(I), (II), struck out "analog" before "signals" in heading, substituted "signal" for "analog signal" wherever appearing, and, in introductory provisions, substituted "October 1, 2009" for "October 1, 2004".
Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(ii)(III), (IV), struck out "analog" before "signals" in heading, substituted "signal" for "analog signal" wherever appearing in text, and substituted "2009" for "2004".
Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iii), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) related to rules for other subscribers to analog signals.
Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iv)(I), which directed striking out "analog", was executed by striking out "analog" before "signal" in introductory provisions, to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the subsequent amendment of cl. (ii) by Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III). See below.
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(i). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iv)(II), substituted "the date of the enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 and, at the time such person seeks to subscribe to receive such secondary transmission, resides in a local market where the satellite carrier makes available to that person the signal of a local network station affiliated with the same television network pursuant to section 338 of this title (and the retransmission of such signal by such carrier can reach such subscriber); or" for "December 8, 2004; and".
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III), amended cl. (ii) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "at the time such person seeks to subscribe to receive such secondary transmission, resides in a local market where the satellite carrier makes available to that person the analog signal of a local network station affiliated with the same television network pursuant to section 338 of this title, and the retransmission of such signal by such carrier can reach such subscriber."
Subsec. (a)(2)(D). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(I), struck out "digital" before "signals" in heading.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(i). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(IV), amended cl. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (i) related to signal testing for digital signals.
Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), (III), redesignated and reordered cl. (vi) as (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which related to eligibility.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(ii). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(V), struck out "digital" before "signal" in heading and in two places in text, struck out ", whether or not such subscriber elects to subscribe to local digital signals" before the period, and substituted "Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010" for "Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004".
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), (VI), added cl. (iii) and struck out former cl. (iii) which related to local-to-local analog markets.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(iv). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), (VII), redesignated cl. (x) as (iv) and struck out former cl. (iv) which related to local-to-local digital markets.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(v). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), struck out cl. (v) which related to non-local-to-local markets.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(vi). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(III), redesignated cl. (vi) as (i).
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(vii) to (ix). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), struck out cls. (vii) to (ix) which related to trigger events for use of testing, testing waivers, and a special waiver provision for translators, respectively.
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(x). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(VII), redesignated cl. (x) as (iv).
Subsec. (a)(2)(D)(xi). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(v)(II), struck out cl. (xi) which defined "emergency response providers".
Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(1)(B)(vi), substituted "distant signal" for "distant analog signal or distant digital signal (within the meaning of subparagraph (A), (B), or (D))".
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(2)(A), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Within 180 days after November 29, 1999, the Commission shall take all actions necessary, including any reconsideration, to develop and prescribe by rule a point-to-point predictive model for reliably and presumptively determining the ability of individual locations to receive signals in accordance with the signal intensity standard in effect under section 119(d)(10)(A) of title 17. In prescribing such model, the Commission shall rely on the Individual Location Longley-Rice model set forth by the Federal Communications Commission in Docket No. 98–201 and ensure that such model takes into account terrain, building structures, and other land cover variations. The Commission shall establish procedures for the continued refinement in the application of the model by the use of additional data as it becomes available."
Subsec. (c)(4)(A). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(2)(B), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "If a subscriber's request for a waiver under paragraph (2) is rejected and the subscriber submits to the subscriber's satellite carrier a request for a test verifying the subscriber's inability to receive a signal that meets the signal intensity standard in effect under section 119(d)(10)(A) of title 17, the satellite carrier and the network station or stations asserting that the retransmission is prohibited with respect to that subscriber shall select a qualified and independent person to conduct a test in accordance with section 73.686(d) of its regulations (47 CFR 73.686(d)), or any successor regulation. Such test shall be conducted within 30 days after the date the subscriber submits a request for the test. If the written findings and conclusions of a test conducted in accordance with such section (or any successor regulation) demonstrate that the subscriber does not receive a signal that meets or exceeds the signal intensity standard in effect under section 119(d)(10)(A) of title 17, the subscriber shall not be denied the retransmission of a signal of a network station under section 119 of title 17."
Subsec. (c)(4)(B). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(2)(C), substituted "such requisite signal intensity standard" for "the signal intensity standard in effect under section 119(d)(10)(A) of title 17".
Subsec. (c)(4)(E). Pub. L. 111–175, §204(b)(2)(D), struck out "Grade B intensity" before "signal."
2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–447, §204(a)(1), inserted at end "Such two network stations may be comprised of both the analog signal and digital signal of not more than two network stations."
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 108–447, §204(a)(3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–447, §204(a)(4), which directed amendment of par. (3) by inserting ", except that paragraph (2)(D) of this subsection, relating to the provision of distant digital signals, shall be enforceable under the provisions of section 340(f) of this title" at end, was executed by making the insertion before period at end, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 108–447, §204(a)(2), redesignated par. (2) as (3).
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 108–447, §204(b), added par. (1) and struck out heading and text of former par. (1). Text read as follows: "For the purposes of identifying an unserved household under section 119(d)(10) of title 17, within 1 year after November 29, 1999, the Commission shall conclude an inquiry to evaluate all possible standards and factors for determining eligibility for retransmissions of the signals of network stations, and, if appropriate—
"(A) recommend modifications to the Grade B intensity standard for analog signals set forth in section 73.683(a) of its regulations (47 CFR 73.683(a)), or recommend alternative standards or factors for purposes of determining such eligibility; and
"(B) make a further recommendation relating to an appropriate standard for digital signals."
Subsec. (c)(4)(D), (E). Pub. L. 108–447, §209, added subpars. (D) and (E).
2000—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 106–553 added par. (5).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–175 effective Feb. 27, 2010, see section 307(a) of Pub. L. 111–175, set out as a note under section 111 of Title 17, Copyrights.
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47 U.S.C. § 339, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/usc/47/339.