Congress has permanently reauthorized the Section 119 exemption for RVs that would have otherwise caused millions of RV owners to lose access to network programming, stated the RV Industry Association. The provision of copyright law threatened access to network programming for RVers using satellites in their units.
But efforts by RVIA, the RV Dealers Association, National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), Family Motor Coach Association, the Escapees RV Club, and RVers from across the country changed that, according to RVIA.
The more than 3,000 letters sent to Congress made the case that RVers represent a unique segment of the population who regularly travel to areas where broadcast signals to watch television with an antenna are not available or where wireless broadband access to receive streaming services such as Nextflix and Hulu are also not available.
RVers argued that if Congress failed to reauthorize Section 119, they would lose access to the network signals resulting in a negative impact on quality of life, safety and security for the millions of RVers who rely on this law.
Thanks to the collective efforts, the exemption for RVs is permanent and will not need to be reauthorized by Congress. The reauthorization became law on Dec. 20, 2019, as part of a larger appropriations bill.