FCC Rules require that every three years, commercial broadcast TV stations must elect either “must carry” or “retransmission consent” for each video/cable system located in the same TV market or “Designated Market Area” (DMA). If a broadcast station elects retransmission consent, the terms of signal carriage are negotiated between the broadcaster and the video/cable operator. In this case, Section 76.65 of the FCC’s rules requires video/cable operators to negotiate these agreements “in good faith.”

JSI assists clients in this negotiation process by serving as the main point of contact for the client in its interaction with the various broadcast stations and providing guidance to the client throughout the negotiation process. JSI will also provide periodic status reports to clients and has legal counsel that it can recommend to clients if necessary.

For more information, contact John Kuykendall (jkuykendall@jsitel.com) or John Becci (jbecci@jsitel.com) in JSI's Maryland office at 301-459-7590.