{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-increased-use-of-online-streaming-platforms-king-joins-colleagues-in-urging-fcc-improve-access-to-local-media", "With Increased Use of Online Streaming Platforms, King Joins Colleagues in Urging FCC Improve Access to Local Media", "2023-10-20", "2023", "2023-10", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King and 19 of his colleagues are pushing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve access to local media on streaming platforms, in a letter they sent to the Commission. Current law and Commission rules state that traditional cable and satellite networks must work directly with a local television station before broadcasting local news, sports, and other programming. However, linear streaming services over the internet are not required to negotiate directly with local television stations.\n\nStreaming services have a large and growing portion of the video media market as consumers cut-the-cord and make the switch from traditional television providers like cable and satellite TV to streaming service over the internet. In 2014, nearly 9 in 10 households subscribed to cable or satellite. This year, fewer than half of families subscribe. As consumers show their preference for the freedom that streaming services provide, it is critical for Congress to ensure continued access to local reporting on viewers\u2019 communities.\n\n\u201cInternet-based streaming services now have a sizable portion of the video programming distribution market \u2013 and this is only expected to grow as streaming companies actively urge consumers to switch from traditional television providers like cable and satellite TV to virtual offerings and other video streaming services. The shift from broadcast, cable, and satellite to streaming has profound impact on existing laws, regulations, and agreements that have been foundational in support of public safety and access to local news,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cIn light of these marketplace changes, we urge the Commission to examine the video marketplace and seriously consider how it can ensure the viability of local broadcast stations and promote localism.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senator King, this letter is signed by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Michael Bennett (D-Colo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren, (D-Mass.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioner Carr, Commissioner Starks, Commissioner Simington, and Commissioner Gomez:\n\nWe write today out of concern for the future of the media market and our constituents\u2019 ability to access broadcasters\u2019 unique locally-focused content on streaming platforms, otherwise known as virtual multichannel video programming distributor (vMVPDs).\n\nUnder current law and Commission rules, a traditional cable system or other multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) must gain consent from a local television station before retransmitting its signal. This retransmission consent system was the centerpiece of Congress\u2019s commitment in the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act to providing local television stations the ability to offer American viewers more locally-focused programming. In 2014, the Commission initiated a proceeding to evaluate the potential modernization of the definition of MVPD to include streaming platforms that offer linear multichannel programming. Virtual MVPDs are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as traditional distributors, including with respect to retransmission consent and requirements to negotiate directly with local television stations for the retransmission of their programming.\n\nMeanwhile, nearly a decade since the public comment period closed, there has been a monumental shift in the marketplace and the way people access video content. Internet-based streaming services now have a sizable portion of the video programming distribution market \u2013 and this is only expected to grow as streaming companies actively urge consumers to switch from traditional television providers like cable and satellite TV to virtual offerings and other video streaming services. The shift from broadcast, cable, and satellite to streaming has profound impact on existing laws, regulations, and agreements that have been foundational in support of public safety and access to local news.\n\nIn light of these marketplace changes, we urge the Commission to examine the video marketplace and seriously consider how it can ensure the viability of local broadcast stations and promote localism. As the expert agency, the Commission should be developing a record and recommendations to ensure that our regulatory system \u2013 which has enabled a thriving locally-focused broadcast system that is the envy of the world \u2013 is not undermined by the explosion of new technologies that were not foreseen even a mere decade ago. Accordingly, we urge you to refresh the aging, unclosed record from the 2014 proceeding by seeking new public comments to provide updated video marketplace information.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important issue, and we look forward to your prompt reply.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-increased-use-of-online-streaming-platforms-king-joins-colleagues-in-urging-fcc-improve-access-to-local-media"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7762350142002106, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}