Go Pack Go Act of 2025

The Go Pack Go Act of 2025 would create a new option for certain Wisconsin counties to receive in-State, adjacent-market network station retransmissions in addition to, or instead of, standard local network signals. Specifically, it adds a new Section 346 to the Communications Act, allowing cable operators and, where technically feasible, satellite carriers to offer subscribers in a defined set of Wisconsin counties the choice to obtain either the usual local network station signals, in-State adjacent-market network station retransmissions, or both. The bill also makes related changes to copyright licensing and transmission rules to accommodate this new option, including deeming certain retransmissions as significantly viewed and exempting them from some consent requirements. The design is to expand access to certain network stations for residents in those counties, while balancing carriage obligations, regulatory feasibility, and licensing rules. The targeted counties are those in Wisconsin that (a) are in a state different from the network’s affiliate state, and (b) are not in the local market of any network station whose community of license is in the subscriber’s state. The measure emphasizes subscriber choice, regulatory feasibility (especially for satellite service), and alignment with existing “significantly viewed” standards and copyright license limits. If adopted, operators would need to implement the election process, and regulators would oversee technical feasibility and licensing implications.