Print & Broadcast Media

Section 2(b)(20)(A)-(B) rescinds amounts made available for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, which harms public broadcasters and related media entities.

Section 2(a)(1) requires disclosures on advertisements paid for by foreign governments or persons, imposing a regulatory burden on entities that disseminate advertisements, including print and broadcast media outlets that run such ads.

Section 2(b)(21)(A)-(B) rescinds amounts made available for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, which directly harms public broadcasters (e.g., PBS, NPR) that rely on this funding.

Broadcast and print media companies often promote and advertise live events (concerts, sports, theater) and may operate or partner with ticketing platforms. The bill's restrictions on using terms like 'official' without partnership agreements (Sec. 4(2)) and prohibiting venue names in URLs without authorization (Sec. 4(3)) directly affect how media entities can promote events, potentially limiting promotional practices and increasing legal review burdens.

Section 2(a) extends the statute of limitations for fraud related to Shuttered Venue Operators grants to 10 years, increasing enforcement risk for entities in the entertainment and live venue sector, which includes broadcast media and related industries.

Section 2(b)(1) bans use of federal education funds to promote literature or materials containing sexually oriented material for children under 18. This affects publishers and broadcasters that produce or distribute such content, limiting their market in educational settings.

Section 2(a)(1)(A) includes licenses under section 309(j) of the Communications Act (broadcast licenses), requiring disclosure of foreign ownership, creating regulatory burden and risk for broadcasters.

Section 2(a) extends the statute of limitations for fraud related to shuttered venue operators grants, which include live performance venues, theaters, and similar entities often associated with broadcast and media production.

Section 2(b)(1)(A) includes licenses under section 309(j) of the Communications Act (broadcast licenses), and Section 2(b)(1)(B) includes cable landing licenses, affecting broadcast TV/radio stations and cable operators.

Broadcast and print media companies often promote and sell tickets to events (e.g., radio station concert promotions, newspaper event listings). The bill’s restrictions on speculative ticketing (Sec. 3) and requirements for clear disclosures (Sec. 2, 4) and refunds (Sec. 5) apply to any entity offering tickets, including media companies acting as ticket sellers, increasing operational burdens.

Section 3 restricts federal collection and disclosure of donor information to tax-exempt organizations, which includes media nonprofits (e.g., public broadcasters, investigative journalism outlets) that depend on donor anonymity, thereby hindering their fundraising and operational capacity.

Section 209(a) prohibits using funds to maintain or establish a computer network unless it blocks viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography, which could increase compliance costs for media companies that operate networks or platforms hosting such content.

Section 1(c) repeals the requirement for printing additional copies of the Annotated Constitution and supplements, which could negatively impact the print industry, specifically companies involved in government printing contracts (e.g., Section 3 of Public Law 91-589).

The bill's definition of 'social media platform' excludes news or sports coverage, but the broader liability changes may still affect media companies that operate interactive platforms with recommendation algorithms, subjecting them to new duties and potential loss of Section 230 protections.

Section 211(4) facilitates access to publicly accessible online safety education efforts by other relevant agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, schools, industry, and other appropriate entities, which could include media companies involved in public awareness campaigns.

Section 202 restricts child-directed advertising of junk food on traditional media (TV, radio, print) where children comprise ≥30% of audience, reducing ad revenue for broadcasters and publishers that rely on food and beverage advertising.

The bill amends 18 U.S.C. § 2258A(g) to require electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers to report certain offenses; while primarily targeting online platforms, broadcasters with online components or user-interactive features may be impacted by reporting requirements.

Section (d)(1)(B)(i) applies to any person, business, or association, which includes print and broadcast media entities, restricting them from publicly posting covered information online upon request, imposing operational burdens.

The bill mentions President Trump's attacks on late-night comedians and his urge to punish broadcasters, which could impact print and broadcast media companies (Whereas President Trump has previously attacked late-night comedians...).

The bill regulates advertising practices, which could affect how hotels and short-term rentals advertise through media channels. However, it does not impose direct costs or benefits on media companies themselves. The impact is indirect and likely negligible.

Sec. 11 restricts disclosure of certain information collected under the Act, which could limit media access to fisheries data and reporting.

Section 4(b)(3)(B) excludes online services consisting primarily of preselected content (not user-generated) from 'covered platform' definition, but news outlets with user comment sections or forums may still fall under the rule, requiring them to implement takedown processes for nonconsensual intimate depictions posted by users.

Section 2(a)(1)(C) excludes the use of a three-cueing model from comprehensive literacy instruction, which may reduce demand for educational materials (e.g., textbooks, workbooks) produced by publishers in the print and broadcast media industry that rely on such models.

Section 4(b)(3)(ii) excludes electronic mail, and (iii) excludes preselected content sites with incidental interactivity, which may cover some traditional media sites. However, if newspapers or broadcasters host user-generated content sections (e.g., comment forums, user video uploads), they could be deemed covered platforms and face removal obligations, imposing costs.