Press Release
Public Interest Groups Praise FCC Cable Reform Proposals
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- Today, the Federal Communications Commission released the agenda for its Dec. 18 meeting. It includes a Report & Order to reform the rules of cable carriage complaints and help resolve basic process issues for independent and minority programmers who have been denied carriage.
The agenda also contains a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will look into the issues of channel bundling, pricing and mandatory channel placement within the cable industry. Free Press, Media Access Project and Consumers Union issued the following statements:
Shawn Chang, deputy policy director, Free Press:
"We applaud Chairman Martin for advancing a set of modest but critical reform proposals that would help improve the diversity of ownership in cable programming. This is an issue of basic fairness: Cable companies have been leveraging their enormous market power to shut out independent content. We are also pleased that the chairman has launched a new inquiry into the anti-competitive activities that drive up consumer rates and limit the diversity of voices on cable systems."
Parul Desai, associate director, Media Access Project:
"MAP is pleased Chairman Martin has circulated an order and rulemaking that will address the public's interest in having access to diverse and independent programming on cable systems. We remain optimistic the commission will conclude that carriage complaint reform is much needed and take the necessary steps to review the practices of cable programmers in their dealings with cable operators. MAP is especially anxious for the commission to adopt an order that will enable independent programmers access to viewers. Despite access to hundreds of channels, many viewers remain disappointed with their choice of programming."
Joel Kelsey, policy analyst, Consumers Union:
"The FCC's proposed guidelines will accelerate a clear and evenhanded resolution of disputes between cable companies and TV programmers -- this reform should mean more diverse programming and lower prices for consumers."
Read the FCC's agenda: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-287123A1.pdf
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Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal access to communications. Learn more at www.freepress.net
The agenda also contains a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will look into the issues of channel bundling, pricing and mandatory channel placement within the cable industry. Free Press, Media Access Project and Consumers Union issued the following statements:
Shawn Chang, deputy policy director, Free Press:
"We applaud Chairman Martin for advancing a set of modest but critical reform proposals that would help improve the diversity of ownership in cable programming. This is an issue of basic fairness: Cable companies have been leveraging their enormous market power to shut out independent content. We are also pleased that the chairman has launched a new inquiry into the anti-competitive activities that drive up consumer rates and limit the diversity of voices on cable systems."
Parul Desai, associate director, Media Access Project:
"MAP is pleased Chairman Martin has circulated an order and rulemaking that will address the public's interest in having access to diverse and independent programming on cable systems. We remain optimistic the commission will conclude that carriage complaint reform is much needed and take the necessary steps to review the practices of cable programmers in their dealings with cable operators. MAP is especially anxious for the commission to adopt an order that will enable independent programmers access to viewers. Despite access to hundreds of channels, many viewers remain disappointed with their choice of programming."
Joel Kelsey, policy analyst, Consumers Union:
"The FCC's proposed guidelines will accelerate a clear and evenhanded resolution of disputes between cable companies and TV programmers -- this reform should mean more diverse programming and lower prices for consumers."
Read the FCC's agenda: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-287123A1.pdf
###
Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal access to communications. Learn more at www.freepress.net
