HR 5913 IH
101st CONGRESS
2d Session
 H. R. 5913
To exempt from the antitrust laws television broadcasting networks in
connection with the broadcasting of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 24, 1990
Mr. MCMILLEN of Maryland introduced the following bill; which was referred
jointly to the Committees on the Judiciary and Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To exempt from the antitrust laws television broadcasting networks in
connection with the broadcasting of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games,
and for other purposes.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  This Act may be cited as the `Olympic Television Broadcasting Act'.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION.
  For purposes of this Act--
  (1) the term `television broadcasting network' means the television network
  of the National Broadcasting Company, the Columbia Broadcasting System,
  or the American Broadcasting Company, the Fox Television Network, or any
  other over-the-air television broadcasting network which is a television
  broadcasting network as defined by the Federal Communications Commission,
  or any cable programmer, or any other video delivery system, and
  (2) the term `antitrust laws' has the meaning given it in subsection (a)
  of the first section of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12(a)), except that such
  term includes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45)
  to the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition.
SEC. 3. EXEMPTION.
  (a) IN GENERAL- The antitrust laws shall not apply to any actions or
  agreements by any television broadcasting network in connection with--
  (1) seeking the permission of the United States Olympic Committee to
  broadcast the Winter or Summer Olympic Games in the United States, or
  (2) the broadcasting in the United States of the Winter or Summer Olympic
  Games in accordance with a designation by the United States Olympic
  Committee.
  (b) RESTRICTION- Any television broadcasting network which is exempt under
  subsection (a)(2) may not interrupt live action in the broadcasting of an
  olympic contest with a commercial.
SEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO BROADCAST GAMES.
  No television broadcasting network may enter into an agreement to broadcast
  the Winter or Summer Olympic Games unless the agreement is approved by the
  United States Olympic Committee. A violation of the requirement of this
  section shall be considered by the Federal Communications Commission to
  be a violation of title III of the Communications Act of 1934.
SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO SUBCONTRACT BROADCAST RIGHTS OF OLYMPIC GAMES.
  No television broadcasting network may enter into an agreement to subcontract
  the broadcasting rights to the Winter or Summer Olympic Games to any other
  party, without the prior approval of the United States Olympic Committee.
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
  This Act shall take effect November 1, 1996.