FCC Still Pondering Next Leased Access Moves

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin hasn't decided whether he will try to revive cable leased access rules in the few days he has remaining as chairman, according to a recent FCC court filing. A federal appeals court in Cincinnati and the Bush administration's Office of Management and Budget have blocked the FCC from enforcing the cable regulations, designed to help programmers who pay to get on cable systems. The FCC, however, can override OMB's objections. The FCC's filing on Nov. 26 notified the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Six Circuit that the agency had not come to any conclusion about how to proceed on a request by the United Church of Christ (UCC) to overturn OMB and adjust the rates cable operators can charge leased access programmers.