Viewer and Listener Protection Act of 2017
This bill establishes the Viewer and Listener Protection Fund through FY2022 to reimburse costs incurred by: (1) a multichannel video programming distributor (e.g. cable provider) in order to continue to carry the signal of a broadcast television licensee under specified conditions, and (2) a broadcast television station or broadcast radio station during the ongoing reorganization of the broadcast television spectrum.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is directed to modify the transition periods for broadcast television stations that are changing channels or broadcast frequencies as part of the reorganization to ensure their broadcasting is not stopped for a significant amount of time. The FCC shall also make an effort to preserve the coverage area and population served by a broadcast radio station that is impacted by the ongoing broadcast frequency reorganization.