ACA, Independents to FCC: Tackle Bundling First

Small and mid-sized cable operators have banded together with independent programmers to tell the Federal Communications Commission that reining in most favored nation (MFN) clauses and alternative distribution method (ADM) clauses is all well and good, but that it should tackle program bundling first in its effort to promote access to independent and diverse content.

That came in a filing on the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking stemming from its program diversity inquiry. A politically divided FCC back in September voted to propose prohibiting unconditional MFNs clauses and "unreasonable" ADMs. Joining with ACA in the filing were independent programmers MAVTV Motorsports Network, One America News Network and AWE, and RIDE TV. They said that while they were generally supportive of the MFN and ADM restrictions, focusing on those rather than channel bundling was like trying to put out a four-alarm fire with a cup of water.