Cable Companies Urge FCC to Toughen Retransmission Regulations

Source: 
Author: 
Coverage Type: 

At the same time the Federal Communications Commission axes its syndicated exclusivity and network non-duplication rules, it also should bar broadcasters from inking other kinds of contracts that could prevent cable operators from importing distant-market signals, say Cablevision Systems and Charter Communications in a joint filing at the FCC.

In addition, the two cable operators want the FCC to require broadcasters to offer “reasonable ” and “nondiscriminatory” retransmission consent rates to pay TV operators, “not tied to carriage of any other programming service or other non-cash compensation,” according to their June 26 FCC filing.

“These steps, which fall squarely within the commission’s authority, would reintroduce some equality of bargaining that has long been absent and avoid much of the consumer harm currently caused by retransmission-consent negotiations,” the cable operators added.


Cable Companies Urge FCC to Toughen Retransmission Regulations