The Copyright Office (CO) has recommended to Congress that it phase out the statutory licenses under which cable and satellite obtain copyright clearances necessary to retransmit broadcast signals. In its report to Congress, mandated by the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), the CO suggested that various market mechanisms could replace the statutory licenses. The cable and satellite distant signal licenses would be the first to be eliminated while the CO would "reserve the elimination of the local signal licenses for a later date."

To read the CO report click here.