Cable Gets Video-Franchise Relief from FCC

CABLE GETS VIDEO-FRANCHISE RELIEF FROM FCC
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In a 3-2 vote with FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein dissenting, the Federal Communications Commission Wednesday extended immediate video-franchise relief to incumbent cable operators. The FCC order adopted Wednesday prevents local franchising authorities from "unreasonably refusing to award competitive cable franchises." The timing and build-out findings of the original order do not apply, however, the FCC said, since "the rationale for these provisions, that they serve as a barrier to entry, are not applicable." Commissioners Adelstein said, ""We pick up with the mistakes that were made in the first report and order, providing future disruption, confusion and complication to the local franchising process." He called the relief "arbitrary and capricious."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6495913.html?rssid=193

* FCC Adopts Rules to Ensure Reasonable Franchising Process for Incumbent Video Providers
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-277772A1.doc