Dingell Asks Comcast To Rethink PEG Policy

DINGELL ASKS COMCAST TO RETHINK PEG POLICY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable 12/21/07, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) has asked cable operator Comcast to rethink moving public, educational and government (PEG) channels to the digital tier in some Michigan communities. Chairman Dingell called "very troubling" news that some of his constituents are going to have to install a set-top box and eventually pay a monthly fee if they want to receive the PEG channels. In a letter to Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts Friday, Chairman Dingell said he was concerned about what he said was Comcast's decision to move the PEG channels in Ann Arbor and Dearborn to the digital tier as of Jan. 15, 2008. "Comcast’s analog subscribers will then need a set-top box to be able to view PEG channels, he said, asking Comcast to "reconsider this decision." "Your intent to charge consumers as much as an additional $4.20 a month per television set to receive PEG channels is plainly inconsistent with Congressional intent that PEG channels be made available 'at the lowest reasonable rate,' he said, pointing out to Roberts that he was one of the principal authors of the portion of the Communications Act that requires cable operators to carry the channels "on the basic tier and at the lowest reasonable rate."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6515028.html?rssid=193

* Dingell Grills Comcast on Set-Top Requirement
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6515681.html?rssid=196