Copyright Office Proposes Regulation for Verification of Cable and Satellite Statements of Account
Issue No. 459 - June 19, 2012
The Copyright Office proposes a new regulation to implement provisions in the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA). The new regulation will allow copyright owners to audit certain statements of account filed with the Copyright Office. Cable operators and satellite carriers pay royalties to, and file statements of account with, the Copyright Office every six months as required by law for the use of the statutory licenses that allow for the retransmission of programming carried on over-the-air broadcast signals. However, until the passage of STELA, the licenses did not authorize the copyright owners, who are the beneficiaries of the royalties collected, to audit the information on statements of account and the amounts paid for use of the statutory licenses. Comments are due August 13, 2012. Reply comments are due September 12, 2012. A comment submission page is posted on the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov/docs/soaaudit/.