Go Pack Go Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2711
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-14T02:04:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Go Pack Go Act of 2025" aims to improve access to in-state television broadcast programming for cable and satellite subscribers in specific rural counties in Wisconsin. It addresses situations where these subscribers are in local media markets (designated geographic areas for TV signals) that include out-of-state stations, limiting their ability to receive Wisconsin-based network affiliates (like ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox stations). The bill allows subscribers to choose in-state stations from nearby markets, promoting access to local news, sports, and other content relevant to their state.
Key Provisions
- Subscriber Choice for Retransmissions: Subscribers in "covered counties" (specific Wisconsin counties: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Dunn, Florence, Iron, Pierce, Polk, Sawyer, St. Croix, or Washburn) can elect to receive:
- Signals from their local network station (the affiliate in their designated market).
- An "in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmission" (signal from a Wisconsin-based affiliate in a neighboring market).
- Or both.
- Applicability to Providers:
- Applies to both cable operators (companies like Comcast that deliver TV via cables) and satellite carriers (companies like DirecTV that use satellites).
- For satellite carriers, this option is required only if technically feasible, as determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
- Exemptions and Deeming Rules:
- Choosing the in-state adjacent-market signal fulfills the provider's existing obligation to carry local stations under current law.
- Cable operators are exempt from needing "retransmission consent" (permission from the broadcaster to carry the signal) for these in-state retransmissions.
- These signals are treated as "significantly viewed" (a regulatory term meaning the station has enough local viewership to justify carriage without special rules), allowing easier inclusion.
- Limits on Carriage Caps:
- These in-state retransmissions do not count toward federal limits on how many distant (non-local) signals satellite carriers can offer.
- Copyright Licensing:
- Amends U.S. copyright law to permit satellite carriers to retransmit these in-state signals under existing statutory licenses (permissions that allow secondary transmissions without individual negotiations), without affecting the carrier's "qualified carrier" status for rural areas.
- Defines key terms like "covered county" (the listed Wisconsin counties without an in-state affiliate for that network) and "in-state, adjacent-market network station retransmission" (signal from a station in the same state but adjacent market).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Communications Act of 1934 Amendments:
- Adds a new Section 346 to allow subscriber elections for in-state signals, overriding some local carriage mandates (Sections 338, 614, 615).
- Modifies Section 339 (satellite carriage rules) to exclude these retransmissions from distant-signal limits and add definitions.
- Updates Section 340 to preserve access to "significantly viewed" out-of-market stations even if subscribers elect in-state options.
- Copyright Law (Title 17) Amendments:
- Revises Sections 119 (distant signals) and 122 (local signals) to include these retransmissions under statutory licenses, expanding eligibility for subscribers in covered counties and excluding them from carriage limits.
- These changes create exceptions tailored to the specified counties, bypassing some negotiation and limit requirements that previously restricted access to in-state programming.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Residents in the covered Wisconsin counties gain more control over their TV options, potentially improving access to state-specific content like local news or sports (e.g., Green Bay Packers games). This could reduce frustration for those feeling disconnected from in-state broadcasts due to market boundaries.
- On Government Agencies: The FCC gains a role in assessing technical feasibility for satellite providers, which may require minor regulatory oversight but no major new programs.
- On Providers and Broadcasters: Cable and satellite companies must implement subscriber election systems, possibly increasing operational costs but also viewer satisfaction. Broadcasters in adjacent Wisconsin markets may see higher viewership and ad revenue from expanded reach.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic broadcasting issue.
- Overall, the bill could encourage similar requests from other states with split markets, potentially leading to broader FCC rulemaking.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Subscribers in Covered Counties: Primary beneficiaries, as they can elect preferred in-state programming.
- Cable and Satellite Providers: Required to offer and manage these options, affecting their programming packages and compliance costs.
- Television Broadcasters: Network affiliates in Wisconsin (e.g., in Green Bay or Milwaukee markets) gain easier distribution; out-of-state affiliates may see reduced priority in these areas.
- Copyright Holders and Content Creators: Benefit from clarified licensing rules that facilitate retransmissions without additional fees or negotiations.
- Federal Agencies: FCC (enforcement and feasibility determinations); Congress (potential model for future state-specific bills).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens statutory licenses under copyright law by adding targeted exceptions, reducing reliance on private negotiations (retransmission consent) that can lead to blackouts. It harmonizes cable and satellite rules, promoting equity between delivery methods, but limits applicability to specific counties to avoid widespread disruption.
- Constitutional Implications: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and broadcasting (under the Commerce Clause). No apparent free speech or due process issues, as it expands viewer choice without compelling content.
- Political Implications: Introduced by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), the bill reflects state-specific advocacy for rural constituents, potentially appealing across party lines in Wisconsin (e.g., for sports fans). It could set a precedent for addressing "market anomalies" in other states, influencing future media policy debates on localism versus national market efficiency.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Go Pack Go Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (9 pages)