Rep. Josh Riley is promoting a bill that would prevent paid video-streaming services from adding advertisements to a plan sold as ad-free during a subscriber's first year or the full original contract term, whichever is longer. The New York Democrat's office announced the proposal Wednesday, though the official bill text shows he introduced it Oct. 1.
The Ad-Free Means Ad-Free Act, H.R. 10696, was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It has not become law, and streaming companies are not yet subject to the proposed restriction.
Under the measure, the Federal Trade Commission would have up to a year after enactment to issue rules barring providers from advertising a paid plan as ad-free and then adding ads within the protected period. The bill would also apply when a subscriber cancels and re-enrolls, starting a new protection period, and when a service is sold through a third party.
Riley said subscribers should receive the ad-free service they paid for. His office cited complaints about sports streaming and other platforms that have added commercials to previously ad-free viewing options. The Sports Fans Coalition endorsed the measure, according to the release.
The bill would give the FTC enforcement authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act. It does not itself prohibit all advertising on streaming services; it targets a change to plans offered as ad-free after a customer subscribes.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
