NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C.  20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
March 31, 2014 Janice Wise (202) 418-8165 
Email:  janice.wise@fcc.gov
FCC TAKES ACTION TO IMPROVE RETRANSMISSION CONSENT PROCESS 
New rule will help curtail a practice that has put upward pressure on cable costs
Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission today adopted a Report and Order that 
strengthens its rules governing retransmission consent negotiations.  This Order will help curtail a 
practice that has put upward pressure on cable and Direct Broadcast Satellite programming costs as well 
as prices to consumers.  
The Communications Act requires cable systems and other pay television services to obtain a broadcast 
television station’s retransmission consent before carrying the station’s signal.  The Act also requires 
broadcasters and pay television service providers to negotiate retransmission consent agreements in good 
faith. 
Today’s Order prohibits a television broadcast station ranked among the top four stations (as measured by 
audience share) from negotiating retransmission consent jointly with another top four station if the 
stations are not commonly owned and serve the same geographic market.  Joint negotiation by these
stations leads to higher retransmission consent fees because the practice reduces competition between the
stations.  Additionally, the threat of losing the programming of two or more top four stations at the same 
time gives the stations undue bargaining leverage in negotiations with Multichannel Video Program 
Distributors.  To target collusive behavior effectively, the Order also defines joint negotiations.  
Congress passed retransmission consent legislation over 20 years ago.  Since that time, there have been 
significant changes in the video marketplace.  The FCC initiated this proceeding to respond to these 
changes and facilitate the fair and effective completion of retransmission consent negotiations to the 
ultimate benefit of consumers.
Action by the Commission March 31, 2014, by Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 
14-29). Chairman Wheeler, Commissioners Clyburn, Rosenworcel, Pai and O’Rielly with Chairman 
Wheeler, Commissioners Clyburn, Rosenworcel, Pai and O’Rielly issuing statements.
Today’s action also includes adoption of a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that asks whether to 
eliminate or modify the Commission’s network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity rules.  These 
rules help broadcast television stations to be the exclusive distributor of network or syndicated 
programming within a certain geographic area. 
For further information, contact Raelynn Remy, Diana Sokolow or Kathy Berthot (202-418-2120; 
raelynn.remy@fcc.gov; diana.sokolow@fcc.gov; kathy.berthot@fcc.gov).  Press contact:  Janice Wise 
(202-418-8165; janice.wise@fcc.gov). 
-FCC-
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