
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 47USC536]

 
          TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
 
                 CHAPTER 5--WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION
 
                  SUBCHAPTER V-A--CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
 
     Part II--Use of Cable Channels and Cable Ownership Restrictions
 
Sec. 536. Regulation of carriage agreements


(a) Regulations

    Within one year after October 5, 1992, the Commission shall 
establish regulations governing program carriage agreements and related 
practices between cable operators or other multichannel video 
programming distributors and video programming vendors. Such regulations 
shall--
        (1) include provisions designed to prevent a cable operator or 
    other multichannel video programming distributor from requiring a 
    financial interest in a program service as a condition for carriage 
    on one or more of such operator's systems;
        (2) include provisions designed to prohibit a cable operator or 
    other multichannel video programming distributor from coercing a 
    video programming vendor to provide, and from retaliating against 
    such a vendor for failing to provide, exclusive rights against other 
    multichannel video programming distributors as a condition of 
    carriage on a system;
        (3) contain provisions designed to prevent a multichannel video 
    programming distributor from engaging in conduct the effect of which 
    is to unreasonably restrain the ability of an unaffiliated video 
    programming vendor to compete fairly by discriminating in video 
    programming distribution on the basis of affiliation or 
    nonaffiliation of vendors in the selection, terms, or conditions for 
    carriage of video programming provided by such vendors;
        (4) provide for expedited review of any complaints made by a 
    video programming vendor pursuant to this section;
        (5) provide for appropriate penalties and remedies for 
    violations of this subsection, including carriage; and
        (6) provide penalties to be assessed against any person filing a 
    frivolous complaint pursuant to this section.

(b) ``Video programming vendor'' defined

    As used in this section, the term ``video programming vendor'' means 
a person engaged in the production, creation, or wholesale distribution 
of video programming for sale.

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VI, Sec. 616, as added Pub. L. 102-385, 
Sec. 12, Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1488.)


                             Effective Date

    Section effective 60 days after Oct. 5, 1992, see section 28 of Pub. 
L. 102-385, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under 
section 325 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 573 of this title.
