Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Stop Sports Blackouts Act.
Section 2. Rebates for video programming blackouts
Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Covered negotiation
The term covered negotiation means a negotiation with respect to—
(A) retransmission consent of a television broadcast station under section 325(b); or
(B) carriage of video programming of an entity that is not a television broadcast station.
(2) Provider
The term provider means either of the following:
(A) A cable operator, as defined in section 602.
(B) A provider of direct broadcast satellite service, as defined in section 335(b)(5).
(3) Television broadcast station
The term television broadcast station has the meaning given the term in section 325(b)(7).
(4) Video programming
The term video programming has the meaning given the term in section 602.
(b) Promulgation of regulations
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate regulations—
(1) to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of that provider a rebate with respect to any period during which the provider denies that subscriber, as a result of a covered negotiation, access to video programming that such provider agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as applicable), to provide to that subscriber during that period; and
(2) to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate issued under paragraph (1).