What is the Local Broadcast Retransmission Fee?

The Local Broadcast Retransmission Fee is charged by local broadcast networks to cable and satellite customers for access to their signal. The US Congress has authorized broadcast stations, such as ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX, to provide consent (grant or deny permission) for cable operators to retransmit the signal to customers. This agreement is typically renegotiated every three years. 

 

In accordance with this law, Midcontinent Communications is required to obtain retransmission consent from various local broadcasters. The Federal Communications Act prohibits cable operators and other video programming distributors from retransmitting broadcast signals without first obtaining each broadcaster’s consent.

 

Obtaining the required consent from all of the broadcasters comes at a cost which is reflected as the Local Broadcast Retransmission Fee on the customer's statement in the Taxes, Surcharges & Fees section.

Back to Resource Center