U.S. Representatives to FCC: Solve retrans issue by year-end

Retransmission consent is driving usually polarized members of the United States Congress into accord. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) sent individual letters to the FCC asking it to complete its retrans review by the end of the year.

Copies of the letters obtained by FierceCable indicate that both elected officials have a more than surface level understanding of the issues around retrans. Emerson, in particular, said she has "heard from a number of my state's smaller pay TV providers" about the issue and has "been told negotiations break down more frequently, consumers lose broadcast signals more often and retransmission consent fees rise more quickly, resulting in significant inconvenience to consumers and higher pay TV bills."

Both she and Dingell asked for action before the end of the year when "more than a thousand carriage deals" are set to expire.

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