The Senate Commerce Committee plans to mark up...

The Senate Commerce Committee plans to mark up Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA) reauthorization legislation Sept. 17, industry officials told us this week. That legislation, a joint effort of Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., has not yet been released. Speculation has been rampant that Rockefeller may attach portions of legislation he introduced last fall that would seek to bring parity to online video distributors. Rockefeller and Thune have also floated a discussion draft called Local Choice (CD Aug 13 p4), intended to end TV blackouts and appropriate for inclusion in STELA, they say. Rockefeller and Thune have said they want to tackle STELA in September. Committee spokespeople did not comment Thursday on whether Sept. 17 is, in fact, the markup date.