FCC said in rulemaking on cable ownership limits (CD Sept 14 p5) ...

FCC said in rulemaking on cable ownership limits (CD Sept 14 p5) it presumed that any regulations it adopted must preclude single MSO from serving “all cable subscribers nationwide.” Commission cited several hypothetical scenarios in which one MSO could overwhelm market. For instance, it asked whether new market entrants had trouble getting licensing agreements with program packagers because latter feared they would be dropped by incumbent multichannel video programmers. Rulemaking also said brand name networks could require carriage of their own networks, thereby increasing their dominance. Commission asked whether single MSO could determine success or failure of programming network. Rulemaking requested comment on must-carry rules, specifically extent to which they limit barriers that cable systems can place between programmers and subscribers. Commission noted increasing effect of DBS and asked parties to present evidence on extent of that impact. Specifically, FCC wants studies examining viability of DBS and overbuild competitors “at various levels of cable concentration.” Such studies may indicate “appropriate limit” on cable MSOs, notice said. Comments are due 75 days from publication in Federal Register, replies 30 days later.