Orrin Hatch: “It would be appropriate at this point to explain our joint view regarding the application of copyright and…”

“It would be appropriate at this point to explain our joint view regarding the application of copyright and communications law to those who provide local television signals with the assistance provided under this Act. We all agree that the rights, obligations, and limitations that apply to applicants under this loan guarantee program ought to be the same as those providing similar services without the assistance of the loan guarantee program. Congress passed comprehensive rules in this area just a few months ago at the end of the last session, and it is our joint intention to clarify that those rules apply to applicants under this program just as they do to others who take advantage of the reforms passed last year. To underscore this position we have offered an amendment, and that amendment has been accepted, that will clarify some confusion resulting from the manner in which section 8 of the underlying bill was drafted by dropping section 8 from the bill altogether.”