STELAR Passes Senate

The just-passed Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reathorization (STELAR) Act, the House reauthorization of the satellite compulsory license, has passed the Senate by unanimous consent after being hotlined.

That is according to a joint statement from Senate Commerce Committee leaders.

Hotlining is an off-the-floor way to achieve swift passage in that body by seeking unanimous consent, essentially asking anybody who has objections to register them, and if none are registered, the bill passes. One "nay" vote and the fast-track move fails.

For the full story go to Multichannel.com.

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.