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from: MultiChannel News

FCC May Levy New Rules on Cable TV Operators

By Tom Steinert-Threlkeld -- Multichannel News, 11/10/2007 9:16:00 AM

Kevin Martin is about to step up his attempt to open up the cable television industry’s rate and programming structure, The New York Times reported Saturday, Nov. 10.

from: Washington Post

FCC Moves to Place Restrictions on Cable TV

From Washington Post, November 12, 2007
By Frank Ahrens

The Federal Communications Commission is likely to impose a new regulation on the largely unregulated cable television industry, the first of what may be more to come.

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Martin Says FCC Has More Power to Regulate Cable

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/12/2007 10:38:00 AM

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says the commission plans to invoke the so-called 70/70 threshold to justify new regulations on the cable industry. That would put the deregulatory-minded Republican chairman on the same page with anti-consolidation groups like Media Access Project, (MAP) which has pushed the FCC to invoke the rule, saying the cable industry has become sufficiently dominant.

from: Digital Democracy

Cable’s 70/70 Rule & the Public Interest — Programming Diversity Is What Should Matter

From Digital Destiny, November 12, 2007
By Jeff Chester

Our friends and colleagues have worked for years to ensure that the monopolistic-run cable television industry be required to operate in a more competitive and–dare I say–democratic manner. So Bravo! to Media Access Project, Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, and everyone else. But the focus of any FCC rules changes should be on how to ensure real programmatic diversity, including shows and channels owned and managed by women and people of color. If all we get is an a la carte system where one can merely pick and choose from the narrow content choices now offered us, then we will not be making real progress. How one should measure success of any cable TV regulatory change should be on what we see on the screen. That’s more important, in my opinion, than a focus on lowering cable rates (or offering new options for cable consumers to block programs and channels they find undesirable).

from: Media Channel

What the FCC Gives With One Hand, It Takes With the Other
By Danny Schechter.

Monty Python’s Eric Idle wrote a song expressing the way many Americans and media reformers feel about the Federal Communications Commission. He used one of the “seven dirty words” originally uttered by comedian George Carlin that forced many radio stations to zealously police their airwaves to avoid expensive fines or any offense to the media gods.

from: Philly.com

FCC rules could stunt Comcast's growth
The agency, calling some cable firms dominant, may offer changes soon.

By Miriam Hill

Inquirer Staff Writer
Comcast Corp. and other cable companies may be forced to limit their growth and make their networks more accessible to independent programmers and other competitors under new rules the Federal Communications Commission is preparing.

from: Philly.com

FCC rules could stunt Comcast's growth
The agency, calling some cable firms dominant, may offer changes soon.

By Miriam Hill

Inquirer Staff Writer
Comcast Corp. and other cable companies may be forced to limit their growth and make their networks more accessible to independent programmers and other competitors under new rules the Federal Communications Commission is preparing.

from: NY Times

November 10, 2007
F.C.C. Planning Rules to Open Cable Market
By STEPHEN LABATON

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 — The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to impose significant new regulations to open the cable television market to independent programmers and rival video services after determining that cable companies have become too dominant in the industry, senior commission officials said.

from: National Journal

FCC Poised To Cap USF Service Temporarily

By David Hatch

(Monday, November 6) The FCC is poised to impose a temporary cap on the multibillion-dollar universal service fund, with a vote expected this month, government and industry sources said.

On October 31, Halloween, the FCC is holding the last of its public hearings on 'localism' in media. Free Press, Prometheus Radio and others will be holding a rally outside the FCC beginning at 9:00 am, that is expected to continue until the hearing begins.

We'd also like to point out that the Wednesday agenda also includes a "Second Report and Order" concerning local video franchises and incumbent cable companies. We expect that the FCC will issue the same order they did on behalf of the telephone companies last December, which placed greater restraints and limitations on municipalities in determining appropriate local video franchises for their communities. According to the ACM, NLC, NATOA and ACD; "the FCC is expected to rule that existing cable operators can, under certain circumstances, back out of key provisions in their current franchise contracts with local governments, renegotiate lower municipal fees, and reduce the benefits they currently provide to the public."