FCC Program Access Rules Called Obsolete, Regulators Let Them Expire
October 15, 2012 – The FCC program access rules included in the 1992 Cable Act have expired because they are no longer needed, U.S. regulators claim.
The FCC chose not to extend the rules that required cable operators to make programs available to rival satellite TV broadcasters.
It appears that sports programs are vulnerable to not being shown without the rules. Under the rules, cable providers had to sell their sports programs showing local teams to satellite TV providers at reasonable prices, The Wall Street Journal said.
Cable providers now own or co-own 57 regional sports networks, according to The Journal – using data from the FCC. For instance, Comcast owns sports networks in Philadelphia, Houston and in the New England states.
Originally, there was concern that cable operators would not sell programs to competitors, Media Mughals said. Now, providers will file individual complaints if a cable operator denies access to a channel.
Read more at TMCnet