Steve Mehs
02-11-03, 05:14 AM
The American Cable Association, representing small and rural cable systems, said in reply comments concerning the Federal Communications Commission's media ownership proceeding that retransmission consent rules should be altered or altogether eliminated.
"Archaic market protection rules allow these conglomerates to leverage retransmission consent rules to extort fees from consumers through cash-for-carriage and tying and bundling of affiliated programming services," said ACA President Matt Polka.
The ACA said the FCC could eliminate network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity rules to avoid the onerous effects of retransmission consent and to give consumers more choice, helping to keep rates down.
Another potential remedy is to eliminate retransmission consent altogether in favor of analog must-carry. "If carriage of the local broadcast signal is what is most important to broadcasters, then this change should not be a problem,” Polka said.
ACA said it also wanted to stress the difference between analog and digital must-carry. The transition to digital in smaller markets presents technical challenges that must be considered, the association said. ACA added that it doesn't support digital must-carry, but instead wants to encourage a marketplace digital transition that considers the needs of and impact on rural consumers and smaller markets.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/feb2003/021103.shtm#four) (Used with Permission)
"Archaic market protection rules allow these conglomerates to leverage retransmission consent rules to extort fees from consumers through cash-for-carriage and tying and bundling of affiliated programming services," said ACA President Matt Polka.
The ACA said the FCC could eliminate network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity rules to avoid the onerous effects of retransmission consent and to give consumers more choice, helping to keep rates down.
Another potential remedy is to eliminate retransmission consent altogether in favor of analog must-carry. "If carriage of the local broadcast signal is what is most important to broadcasters, then this change should not be a problem,” Polka said.
ACA said it also wanted to stress the difference between analog and digital must-carry. The transition to digital in smaller markets presents technical challenges that must be considered, the association said. ACA added that it doesn't support digital must-carry, but instead wants to encourage a marketplace digital transition that considers the needs of and impact on rural consumers and smaller markets.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/feb2003/021103.shtm#four) (Used with Permission)