Federal Register: December 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 250)
DOCID: FR Doc 04-28605
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Copyright Office, Library of Congress
Docket ID: [Docket No. 2004-9 CARP SRA]
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Satellite royalty funds:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of voluntary negotiation period.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Rate Adjustment for the Satellite Carrier Compulsory License
DATES: The voluntary negotiation period commences on December 30, 2004 and concludes on January 10, 2005.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is announcing the voluntary negotiation period for the purpose of determining the royalty fees for analog signals to be paid by satellite carriers under the satellite carrier compulsory license.
SUMMARY:
Satellite carrier compulsory license; rate adjustment,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
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Background
The satellite carrier compulsory license establishes a statutory copyright licensing scheme for satellite carriers that retransmit television broadcast signals to satellite dish owners for their private home viewing. 17 U.S.C. 119. Congress created the license in 1988 with the passage of the Satellite Home Viewer Act of 1988. Congress reauthorized the satellite license for additional fiveyear periods in 1994 and 1999, and the license was slated to expire on December 31, 2004. However, Congress again reauthorized the satellite license for another five years with the passage of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 (``the 2004 Act'') (as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005), Pub. L. 108447, which was signed into law by the President on December 8, 2004.
Satellite carriers pay royalties based on a flat, persubscriber, permonth fee. These rates were initially set by Congress in the Satellite Home Viewer Act of 1988 and then later adjusted by a three person arbitration panel convened by the former Copyright Royalty Tribunal. 57 FR 19052 (May 1, 1992). When the license was reauthorized in 1994, Congress directed that the rates be adjusted by the Librarian of Congress using the system that replaced the Copyright Royalty Tribunal, namely, ad hoc Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panels (``CARPs'') administered by the Librarian of Congress and the Copyright Office. Accordingly, the Librarian adjusted the rates in 1997. 62 FR 55742 (October 28, 1997). In the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999, which reauthorized the license for an additional five years, Congress reduced the rates set by the Librarian.
The 2004 Act adopts the rates as reduced by Congress in 1999 but calls for the amendment of those rates to be paid by satellite carriers for the secondary transmission of the primary analog transmission of network stations and superstations. This notice begins the process mandated by the statute.
Voluntary Negotiation Period
Sections 119(c)(1)(B) of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C., provides that ``[o]n or before January 2, 2005, the Librarian of Congress shall cause to be published in the Federal Register [notice] of the initiation of voluntary negotiation proceedings for the purpose of determining the royalty fee to be paid by satellite carriers * * * under subsection (b)(1)(B).'' This notice initiates the voluntary negotiation period.
The statute provides that ``[w]ithin 10 days after publication in the Federal Register of a notice of the initiation of voluntary negotiation proceedings, parties who have reached a voluntary agreement may request that the royalty fees in that agreement be applied to all satellite carriers, distributors, and copyright owners without convening an arbitration proceeding.'' 17 U.S.C. 119(c)(1)(D)(ii)(I). In accordance with this provision, the voluntary negotiation period commences today, December 30, 2004, and concludes January 10, 2005.
If a voluntary agreement is reached by the end of the negotiation
period, the parties can request that the Librarian publish the
agreement for notice and comment in accordance with section
119(c)(1)(D)(ii)(II) and adopt the rates in the voluntary agreement if
no objections are received from a party with a significant interest and
an intention to participate in an arbitration proceeding. 17 U.S.C.
119(c)(1)(D)(ii)(III). If an objection to the voluntary agreement is
received or if parties are unable to reach a voluntary agreement, the
statute dictates that the rates be determined under the current CARP
system.\1\ Therefore, if a CARP proceeding becomes necessary, the
Library must apply the rules and regulations of 37 CFR part 251.
Consequently, should the parties be unable to reach a voluntary
agreement by the end of the voluntary negotiation period or should a
party with a significant interest and an intention to participate in an
arbitration proceeding file an objection to the agreement, the Library
will publish a subsequent notice calling for the filing of Notices of Intent to Participate.
\1\ On November 30, 2004, the President signed into law the
Copyright Royalty and Distribution Act of 2004, Pub. L. 108419,
which eliminates the CARP system and replaces it with three
permanent Copyright Royalty Judges. However, the 2004 Act calls for
satellite royalty rates to be determined ``under chapter 8 as in
effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Copyright
Royalty and Distribution Act of 2004.'' 17 U.S.C. 119(c)(1)(F).
Dated: December 27, 2004.
David O. Carson,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 0428605 Filed 122904; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 141033P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
David O. Carson, General Counsel, or Gina Giuffreda, Attorney Advisor, Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP), P.O. Box 70977, Southwest Station, Washington, DC. 20024. Telephone: (202) 7078380. Telefax: (202) 2523423.