ACA Sends Its Best Wishes
for a Happy and Profitable 2011!
| Key Development |
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ACA Applauds FCC For Retransmission Consent Rulemaking
In response to requests from the American Cable Association and others concerned about the failing retransmission consent law, the Federal Communications Commission is planning to consider new rules that would potentially protect pay-TV customers from broadcasters that suddenly pull their signals to pressure cable operators into paying excessive fees for carriage.
William Lake, chief of the FCC's Media Bureau, said the agency would conduct a rulemaking next year to determine what the FCC can do better to protect consumers from broadcasters' increasing reliance on signal blackouts to gain leverage over pay-TV distributors in retransmission consent negotiations.
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ACA Praises Lawmakers Seeking Comcast-NBCU Conditions
The American Cable Association praised key Capitol Hill lawmakers for recommending conditions that would protect consumers and competition from market power abuses stemming from the proposed $30 billion Comcast-NBC Universal merger announced more than a year ago and still awaiting regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice.
"The market power flowing from the Comcast-NBCU merger will cost pay-TV subscribers at least $2.4 billion more over nine years without narrowly tailored conditions to curb abuses," ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said. "We firmly believe that the Comcast-NBCU transaction will raise costs for consumers and we urge regulators to adopt remedies that work for smaller operators."
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ACA Salutes New House Telecom Panel Chairman Rep. Walden
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), a former small businessman and radio station owner, has been named the next chairman of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, the panel that oversees the cable, broadcasting and satellite TV industries as well as the Federal Communications Commission.
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| News Headlines |
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- AT&T To Pay $1.93B For Qualcomm Spectrum; FLO TV To Fold (The Wall Street Journal, 12/20)
AT&T Inc. (T) will pay $1.93 billion for a swath of spectrum licenses from Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) as AT&T looks to bolster its fourth-generation service while Qualcomm plans to shut down its FLO TV service.
- Online Extra: Rep. Upton Sets Priorities (Multichannel News, 12/20)
House Energy & Commerce Committee chairman-elect Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) has more on his mind than the fight over network neutrality he talked about in this week's magazine.
- TV's Future: FCC Decisions On Internet Access, Comcast-NBC Merger Approaching (The Washington Post, 12/18)
America's beloved television is getting an extreme Internet makeover, and questions over what shows viewers will see online and how much they pay for them could soon be resolved by the Federal Communications Commission.
- Fox Affils Not Cool With 'Cooling Off Feed' To Time Warner Cable (TVNewsCheck, 12/17)
On its face, Fox’s retrans “insurance feed” arrangement with Time Warner Cable is a terrible one for Fox affiliates, undermining their ability to earn a fair retrans dollar (or two bits, four bits, six bits, whatever).
- A Brand New Kind Of TV Season: The Retransmission-Blackout Season (Media Post Blogs, 12/17)
There's a new TV season developing: not the premiere TV season, not the winter weekend NFL season, not the replacement show mid-season, nor the repeat season.
- DirecTV: Comcast/NBCU Conditions Should Be Open-Ended (Multichannel News, 12/17)
DirecTV told the Federal Communications Commission this week that conditions on the Comcast/NBNCU merger should last for at least six years, but after that should only be lifted when and if the merger company can demonstrate they are no longer needed.
- Comcast-NBCU Deal Would Create Minority Networks (CNBC, 12/17)
Comcast will offer new programming targeted at African- and Asian-Americans if it is allowed to buy a majority stake in General Electric's NBC Universal, the company announced this week in agreements with civil rights groups.
- Sen. Hutchinson Introduces Amendment To Block FCC Net Neutrality Move (Broadcasting & Cable, 12/16)
The temperature outside the Capitol was below freezing, but the network neutrality issue continued to heat up Thursday.
- FCC May Move On Comcast-NBC Review (Politico, 12/16)
The year may be rapidly drawing to a close, but there’s still time for the Federal Communications Commission to address the proposed merger of cable giant Comcast and top network NBC.
- Obama Signs CALM Act On Volume Of TV Commericals (CBS News, 12/15)
TV viewers, rejoice: You'll no longer get blown out of your seat by the difference in volume between the television program you're watching and the commercials that air during it.
- Rep. Terry Seeking New Democratic Partner For Universal Service Reform (National Journal, 12/15)
Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., said he is seeking a new Democratic partner to work with him to push legislation that would overhaul the universal service fund, which provides subsidies for telecommunications services in rural and high-cost areas.
For more news, visit the Headlines Page on the ACA website.
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| About ACA |
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Across this vast country, small and rural markets participate in the digital revolution by receiving video, broadband, and phone services from nearly 900 small and medium-sized independent operators represented by the American Cable Association (ACA).
ACA’s members -- cable, phone, and fiber-to-the-home operators and municipalities -- deliver affordable basic and advanced services to about 7.6 million households and businesses. ACA members operate in every state, offering high-definition television, next generation Internet access, and digital phone service.
Access to advanced communications is not a luxury but a critical necessity for consumers and companies, schools and hospitals. America’s economic prosperity in smaller markets and rural areas depends on the growth and success of ACA members, who believe a connected nation, is a united nation.
The ACA asks lawmakers and regulators to ensure fair treatment so that small and medium-sized independent operators may continue to supply affordable video, broadband, and phone services to Main Street America. Through active participation in the policymaking process, ACA members and leaders advocate for the interests of their customers, their companies, and their communities to help ensure the continued viability of their way of life in hometown America.
For more information, visit www.americancable.org, or contact:
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