Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) explained how he was able to use his position as chairman of the Senate Judiciary's subcommittee on intellectual property to get U.S. troops that are forward deployed access to streaming services to watch popular shows.
Tillis told the National Republican Senatorial Committee on their "20 for 20" podcast the issue was raised when a cloakroom staff member explained he had a relative who said it was frustrating to not be able to legally access "Game of Thrones" while they were overseas.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly announced his retirement from football today. @ThomTillis talked to us in our latest episode about his admiration for Luke and what a great man and athlete he is. Watch here ?? pic.twitter.com/NGseTSBqRj
— 20 for 20 (@20for20pod) January 15, 2020
"So, it was a probably a week later I had a hearing and we were talking about content streaming and piracy. And I went up to some of the witnesses afterward and said, 'Guys, can we see if we can work out — I can't imagine that you all mind, in a forward deployed situation, where American men and women are stationed, there's got to be some way that we can provide them with legal access to content when they're deployed.' And they said, '100%,' Tillis recalled.
"So we're working with the Motion Picture Association. We've got to work out a few kinks with the [Department of Defense] in terms of authority, but we want to provide these men and women the oppournity to have a little taste of Americana. Maybe it's watching a Super Bowl if they can't get to it, or watching their favorite show. Give them some sense of normalcy in an abnormal environment," he added.