Retransmission consent (or retrans) fees are the payments that Norvado and other cable and satellite providers make to broadcasters to carry their signals.

• The rules governing retrans fees are part of the 1992 Cable Act.

• These rules were written at a time when most of us had only one choice for pay TV service and the Internet was still in its infancy.

• Today, we have a ton of choices for video, but our video rules are still based on the old model of only one pay TV provider.

National broadcast networks are increasingly taking control over retransmission consent decisions and demanding a cut of local stations’ retransmission consent fees. If their demands are not met, they pull their signals from consumers, leaving you without your favorite programming indefinitely. And when those demands are met, it just results in higher prices for you.