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Cable and satellite providers want revised FCC rules and fees

By | March 10, 2010, 6:11am PST

Summary: Several cable and satellite broadcast providers want the FCC to overhaul the fee schedules and rewrite the dispute regulations.

Reuters’ reports that several cable and satellite broadcast providers want the FCC to overhaul the fee schedules and rewrite the dispute regulations.

The group, which includes rival TV distributors such as Time Warner Cable Inc (TWC.N), DirecTV Group (DTV.O) and Dish Network Corp (DISH.O) serve more than 65 million U.S. homes. They will file a petition with the FCC, which argues the current retransmission consent regime is flawed.

The most recent dispute was when Walt Disney Co’s (DIS.N) ABC Network pulled its signals from New York’s Cablevision Systems Corp (CVC.N) on the eve of the Oscars. Time Warner Cable also had a public fight with News Corp’s (NWSA.O) Fox network on New Year’s eve.

Canadian broadcasters have tried to get regulatory change with the CRTC since 2008 and are currently hosting hearings on the matter. FCC Commissioners will face pressure from Congress with protests by ABC and Disney pulling stunts with its viewers on a regular basis. Legislation could be drafted this year.

In a letter to members of Congress, the cable companies said it was time to “restore balance” to the retransmission consent process and protect consumers from TV blackouts.

“We respectfully urge you and other Members of Congress to carefully examine the circumstances that have resulted in the current imbalance in retransmission consent negotiations.”

If the FCC were to agree to such a framework, it could weaken the negotiating stance of the broadcasters who have the right to switch off a signal at the end of a contract if they do not reach a new agreement with the distributor.

Cable operators which have been diversifying their product portfolios, adding VOIP and IPTV offerings along with Internet services, may see a new type of service by media broadcast companies, shutting off signals and delivering over the air or the Internet and charging for programming directly at higher rates than what the cable companies pay now. The cable operators services that bundle up program packages would also be thrown in disarray, hurting their revenue options. This may be the last decade that any of the players play nice together across North America.

Additional resources:

FCC releases ‘Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan’

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Topics

FCC, Cable Company, U.S. Congress, Satellite, Reuter, Federal Government, Cable, Network Technology, Government, Telecommunications, Personal Technology, Networking, Doug Hanchard

Disclosure

Doug Hanchard

http://government.zdnet.com/?page_id=5774

Biography

Doug Hanchard

Doug is the principal of Rapid Response Consulting, an advisory group that integrates ICT solutions. He has worked at some of the largest telecommunications firms in Canada, including Bell Canada, Telus and AT&T and is a guest lecturer for several universities and associations. He serves on several advisory boards in Canada and the United States.

Starting with a new national ISP in 1993 in sales, positioning internet access, web sites and network services began the path of telecommunications technologies from the early Bulletin Board Services (BBS) to the first web pages for commercial clients.

Became the National Data Network Service Manager for Frame Relay and Internet access for AccTel Enterprises which was acquired (after 3 mergers already) by AT&T Canada. Interested in how marketing could expand service availability, he moved to Telus to become the Frame Relay / ATM Product Manager and expanded the network across Canada. In 2002 he went to Bell Canada becoming a Solution Architect to get back to his passion for technology working with enterprise clients. In 2006, became the Director of R&D and Senior Solution Architect for Bell Canada Security Solutions Inc, developing I.P. based physical and logical security platforms and ICT services.

This position created new commercial concepts such as Crisis and Disaster technology solutions required for emergency use after an event occurred. He designed interoperable technologies and application combinations allowing any to any I.P. service through landline, broadband, satellite and wireless technologies to be deployed anywhere

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RE: Cable and satellite providers want revised FCC rules and fees
birumut Updated - 4th May 2011
Great!!! thanks for sharing this information to us!
seslisohbet seslichat
View in thread
0 Votes
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Who cares!
datrappert 10th Mar 2010
TV is not some God-given right. If the signal goes off, you can read a book, or even go outdoors! This is the last sort of thing that the Government should get involved in.
0 Votes
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Who Cares 3/4 of the USA cares!
TheTess 16th Mar 2010
Some of us have very active lives and still enjoys sitting down to watch our favorite shows a few nights a week. Sorry, YOU don't speak for the rest of the country.
0 Votes
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Does it feel good?
pwatson 18th Mar 2010
Never underestimate the ineptitude of the American consumer.
0 Votes
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They deserve each other
pwatson 10th Mar 2010
The content providers and broadcasters are both feeding on the "entertainment oriented" culture in the United States and other parts of the world.

Our (USA) math and science scores are deplorable, we have lost most of our manufacturing capability, and few can make, or be trusted to make, change if the machine did not dole out the coins into a cup for them.

The Web has not helped much since sites are often designed to eschew reading in favor of clicking on the pretty pictures. Oh, yes, there are two words that have been retained: "BUY NOW."

The important work appears to be ensuring that no one is denied immediate access to "American Idol." Forget healthcare. It is the best thing since the virtually content-free "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" And let's not forget the helpful approach when couples are supposedly put on an island and argue about sex.

Who benefits from this? Oh yeah, the content providers and broadcasters.
0 Votes
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Broadcasters Tyranny
Tinman57 10th Mar 2010
The big broadcasters, ABC, NBC, FOX, ect want to continue screwing the public. Perhaps the cable/satellite companies can put a stop to it, but it's doubtfull since the big broadcasters have politicians in their pockets.
Basically, not only do they make megabucks off of all the commercials you have to sit through, plus they want to charge everyone a fee to watch them over cable or satellite, even though it's free over the air. It's just another way for them to squeeze nickles out of everyone that otherwise would get their services free with an antennae.
0 Votes
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Interesting, isn't it?
Dogcatcher 11th Mar 2010
The big broadcasters are fighting to stay alive, but in doing so they hasten their demise.

Higher payments to the broadcasters will mean higher fees to cable subscribers, and higher fees, in turn, will generate more push-back from consumers via their elected officials.

The reality, which some try to ignore, is that (at least for a while) the broadcasters need the viewers provided by the cable companies, and the cable companies need the content provided by the broadcasters.

However, the domination of television by the big broadcasters is over. It was a nice run, made some people very rich, and shaped America in many ways. Now, the time has come to turn off the transmitters and pipe the signal directly to the cable companies.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Cable and satellite providers want revised FCC rules and fees
birumut Updated - 4th May 2011
Great!!! thanks for sharing this information to us!
seslisohbet seslichat

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