1Memorializing the Congress of the United States to enact S. 912
2(2013), which would enable cable television customers to
3subscribe to individual cable television channels.

4WHEREAS, The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-
5104, 110 Stat. 56) was enacted to provide for reduced rates from
6increased competition in the cable television industry; and

7WHEREAS, Increased competition has not resulted from these
8changes and consequently the customers of the cable television
9industry have not achieved the anticipated lower rates for cable
10television service; and

11WHEREAS, A survey conducted by the Federal Communications
12Commission determined that between 1995 and 2011 cable
13television rates for basic cable service have increased an
14average of just over six percent each year, which is nearly two
15and one half times the average annual rate of inflation; and

16WHEREAS, The current average monthly price for basic cable
17television service is $54.46; and

18WHEREAS, The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 (Public

1Law 98-549, 47 U.S.C. § 521 et seq.) provides only for basic
2service subscription by multichannel tiers where cable
3television customers must pay for a subscription to an entire
4cable channel tier that may include cable television channels
5that a customer may not desire or utilize; and

6WHEREAS, An option that enables cable television customers to
7select only the cable television channels that they wish to
8subscribe to would reduce the rates paid by the customers by
9enabling customers to select only desired cable channels; and

10WHEREAS, Federal law preempts state regulation of rates and
11channel selection options for cable television service; and

12WHEREAS, United States Senator John McCain has introduced S.
13912 (2013), the Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013, to
14provide cable and satellite television customers with an a la
15carte option to select only those cable or satellite television
16channels that the customer wants to subscribe to, instead of
17subscribing to a full multichannel tier; therefore be it

18RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
19urge the Congress of the United States to enact S. 912 (2013);
20and be it further

21RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
22the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
23member of Congress from Pennsylvania.