[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 11 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COPYRIGHT COMPULSORY LICENSE IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, my good friend and colleague Mr. Coble, the 
Chairman of the House Judiciary Intellectual Property Subcommittee 
introduced in the House today the Copyright Compulsory License 
Improvement Act. I had intended to introduce similar legislation in the 
Senate today, but have decided to allow some of my colleagues on the 
Judiciary Committee time to review this important legislation and join 
me in presenting legislation to the Senate.
  Let me first thank Mr. Coble for his leadership in this area. He and 
his staff have worked tirelessly to develop the bill he introduced 
today. It is legislation that will set the stage for increased 
competition in the multi-channel video delivery market, and that means 
greater viewer choice in getting television. It is always a pleasure to 
work with Chairman Coble, and I look forward to working with him as we 
perfect this legislation and move it to enactment. I have also worked 
with the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator 
Leahy, who has provided valuable input into the Senate legislation.
  I must also acknowledge the input of the Register of Copyrights and 
Copyright Office staff. They worked along with congressional staff in 
creating this legislation.
  Let me say that I believe the legislation that Chairman Coble and I 
have worked on effectively balances the various interests affected by 
the legislation. While I look forward to perfecting the legislation, I 
expect it to undergo revision as it moves through the process, I 
believe that the essential balance must be maintained for this 
legislation to move this year. And it is important that we enact 
legislation this year allowing satellite carriers to provide local 
carriage of broadcast signals within a broadcaster's local market. No 
reform is more important to making satellite competitive with cable for 
the long term. I believe the other reforms also set the stage for 
vigorous competition between satellite and cable, with adequate 
protections for the other interested parties whose works are delivered 
by them to viewers, which should result in lower prices and increased 
choices for viewers. This is important legislation for all of our 
constituents, but particularly for those in states with rural or 
mountainous areas such as my home state of Utah. I hope my colleagues 
will help work to enact these reforms this year so that the next 
generation of satellite television delivery can become a reality in the 
very near future.
  I welcome input from all interested parties and my colleagues. And I 
look forward to introducing a companion to Mr. Coble's bill when we 
return from our President's Day recess.

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