Copyright Office Seeks Comment on Proposed Section 111 Rulemaking.
Issue No. 345 - June 2, 2008


The Copyright Office is seeking public comment on proposed regulatory changes and policy recommendations on issues related to the retransmission of digital television broadcast signals by cable operators under section 111 of the Copyright Act. The Office proposes rule amendments to section 201.17 of title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations to accommodate the retransmission of digital television signals by cable systems under the section 111 license. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) covers many issues including the cable copyright royalty treatment of digital simulcast signals, multicasting, and program-related material. The NPRM also considers digital set top boxes and gross receipts, tiering and the carriage of DTV signals, and other issues associated with the retransmission of digital television signals under the section 111 framework. Comments and Reply Comments filed in response to the NPRM will be posted on the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov. (Read further information.)