US Reps say government has no place in retransmission negotiations

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Gene Green (D-TX) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) have collaborated on a “dear colleague” letter pointing out that negotiations between broadcasters and MVPDs for retransmission rates are business transactions which do not require any government intervention.


In the letter, entitled “Keep Politics out of Retransmission Consent,” the Reps wrote, “In our view, the retransmission consent process is a business to business matter and a negotiation between private parties. We feel it is a process where the role of government should be limited. The present system is working and the FCC, left to its own process and free from political interference, will make that same determination.”

They concluded, “As you evaluate this issue further, we would encourage you to remain neutral and not to take sides in these business negotiations.”