Rep Markey Asks FCC to Retain Ban On Exclusive Contracts

Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) has asked the Federal Communications Commission to extend the program access rules, which are slated to sunset Oct. 5, unless the FCC renews them.

According to a draft order circulated two weeks ago, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is proposing to allow the access rules, which ban exclusive contracts between distributors and their vertically integrated networks, to sunset, handling those complaints via case-by-case application of a rule against unfair or deceptive practices that will remain on the books. But Rep Markey, in a letter to Chairman Genachowski, says not extending that ban is still needed, that the largest cable operators remain powerful players, and that sunsetting the ban would be consumer unfriendly, pointing to the "costly and time-consuming litigation that would ensue in case-by-case adjudication of disputes in lieu of the current rules. The FCC is expected to vote on the proposal Oct 3 or 4.