Only the left has signed this so far (Bill Ranking)
H.R. 888 · 119th Congress (2025-2026)
8 members · Left 6 · Center 2 · Right 0 (Bill Ranking)
| Sponsor | Rep. Ryan, Patrick (D-NY) (Introduced 01/31/2025) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Voting Record | Center · DW-NOMINATE -0.22 · measured from every roll-call vote this member has cast (voteview.com) (Sponsor Ranking) |
| Support |
LLLCLRR support across the spectrum: 8 members signed on (Bill Ranking) this bill: sponsor + current cosponsors, each once |
| Committees | House - Energy and Commerce Committee |
| Latest Action | 01/31/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
| Roll Call Votes | There have been no roll call votes |
| Source | view on congress.gov → |
Introduced in House (01/31/2025)
Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025
This bill requires cable and satellite broadcast providers to issue rebates to customers who are denied access to video programming included in their subscription because of programming negotiations.
Specifically, where a provider’s negotiations related to the retransmission or carriage of video programming result in the provider failing to offer access to programming included in a customer’s subscription, the customer must be issued a rebate for the affected period. The Federal Communications Commission is directed to issue rules to this effect, including to establish the appropriate amount for such a rebate.
119 HR 888 IH: Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives 2025-01-31 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 888IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 31, 2025Mr. Ryan (for himself, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Carson, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations with respect to rebates for certain video programming blackouts, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025.
2.Rebates for video programming blackoutsTitle VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:723.Rebates for video programming blackouts(a)In generalNot later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate regulations—(1)to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of such provider a rebate with respect to any period during which the provider denies such subscriber, as a result of a covered negotiation, access to video programming that such provider agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as the case may be), to provide to such subscriber during such period; and(2)to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate issued under paragraph (1).(b)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Covered negotiationThe term covered negotiation means a negotiation with respect to—(A)retransmission consent of a television broadcast station under section 325(b); or(B)carriage of video programming of an entity that is not a television broadcast station.(2)ProviderThe term provider means either of the following:(A)A cable operator (as defined in section 602).(B)A provider of direct broadcast satellite service (as defined in section 335(b)(5)).(3)Television broadcast stationThe term television broadcast station has the meaning given such term in section 325(b)(7). (4)Video programmingThe term video programming has the meaning given such term in section 602..
The bill's own words, from our database (synced from the GPO BILLS XML); paragraph breaks added at the bill's section boundaries, nothing else changed.
| Date | Chamber | All Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 01/31/2025 | Library of Congress | Introduced in House |
| 01/31/2025 | Library of Congress | Introduced in House |
| 01/31/2025 | House floor actions | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
| Title Type | Title |
|---|---|
| Display Title | Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025 |
| Short Title(s) as Introduced | Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025 |
| Official Title as Introduced | To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations with respect to rebates for certain video programming blackouts, and for other purposes. |
There are no amendments to this bill.
* = Original cosponsor
| Committee | Activity |
|---|---|
| House - Energy and Commerce Committee | 01/31/2025 Referred To |
Policy Area: Science, Technology, Communications
No legislative subjects have been assigned yet.
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