Connecticut House Bill HB06118

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/20/17
• Refer: 1/20/17

Caption

An Act Concerning Establishment Of A Fee From Multichannel Video Programming Distributors To Companies Or Organizations Responsible For Community Access Operations.

Impact

The introduction of this fee is expected to impact the funding landscape for community access television. By creating a consistent revenue stream from MVPDs, local organizations managing these community channels may gain more financial stability and resources to improve programming and operations. This could enhance local media offerings and ensure that community voices are represented more effectively in the media landscape.

Summary

House Bill 06118 aims to establish a regulatory framework under which multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) are required to pay fees to companies or organizations that manage community access operations. Specifically, the bill mandates the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to set a fee structure based on the number of customer accounts that each MVPD serves. This change is intended to support community access operations financially, ensuring that they can continue to provide local programming and manage local channels effectively.

Contention

While the bill aims to bolster community access operations, it may face criticism from MVPDs arguing that the imposition of additional fees could burden them financially, possibly leading to higher service costs for consumers. This could ignite discussions around the affordability of local service provisions and the balance between providing community service and the economic pressures on video distributors.