PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.By Senator Biden from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 103-407.
Congressional Research Service
Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · May 5, 1994
Satellite Compulsory License Extension Act of 1994 - Amends copyright law with respect to satellite carrier compulsory licenses to require the subscriber information list submitted by a satellite carrier that makes secondary transmissions of a primary transmission by a network station to include the names of the subscribers. Provides that in any action relating to the violation of territorial restrictions on statutory license for network stations the satellite carrier shall have the burden of proof that a subscriber is an unserved household (in the case of a primary transmission by a network station). Provides that, upon a challenge by a network affiliate regarding whether a subscriber is an unserved household, a satellite carrier shall deauthorize service to the household or conduct a measurement of the signal intensity of the subscribers's household to determine whether the household is unserved and, if so, deauthorize service. Requires the challenging affiliate to reimburse a carrier for any signal intensity measurement that indicates the household is an unserved household. Revises: (1) the formula used by the satellite carrier to compute the royalty fee to be deposited semiannually with the Register of Copyrights to increase the fees for secondary transmissions subject to statutory licensing; and (2) dates and procedures regarding the adjustment of such royalty fee. Revises, the definition of a "network station" for purposes of cable and satellite carrier compulsory license provisions to be: (1) a television broadcast station owned or operated by, or affiliated with, one or more of the U.S. television networks which offer an interconnected program service on a regular basis for 15 or more hours per week to at least 25 of its affiliated television licensees in ten or more States; or (2) any noncommercial educational station that is a member of the public broadcasting service. Revises the definition of: (1) "satellite carrier" to specify that such a carrier operates in the Fixed Satellite Service or the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service; (2) "cable system" to include a facility that makes secondary transmissions of broadcast signals by microwave cables; and (3) "local service area of a primary transmitter" (in the case of a television broadcast station) to comprise either the area of whch such station is entitled to insist upon its signal being retransmitted by a cable system pursuant to the rules, regulations, and authorizations of the Federal Communications Commission in effect on April 15, 1976, such station's television market (as in effect on September 18, 1993), or any subsequent modifications to such television market. Terminates the provisions of this Act on December 31, 1999.
People & committees
Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ] · D–AZ
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
By Senator Biden from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 103-407.
By Senator Biden from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 103-407.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to request for conference. Appointed conferees. DeConcini; Leahy; Hatch. (consideration: CR S12207-12208)
Senate disagreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate disagreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
Message on House action received in Senate and at the desk: House amendments to Senate bill and House requests a conference.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The Speaker appointed conferees: Brooks, Hughes, Synar, Boucher, Frank (MA), Moorhead, Coble, and Fish.
On motion that the House insist upon its amendments, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H8422)
Mr. Brooks moved that the House insist upon its amendments, and request a conference.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
A similar measure H.R. 1103 was laid on the table without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed without objection.
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 1103. Agreed to without objection.
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H8421-8422)
Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
Committee on Judiciary discharged.
Committee on Judiciary discharged.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration.
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Held at the desk.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5935-5936)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S5935-5936)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 422.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Referred to Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12245)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.1485 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.1485 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.1485 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.1485 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.