The FCC has opened a 30-day comment file on ACA’s petition for rulem...

The FCC has opened a 30-day comment file on ACA’s petition for rulemaking to reform retransmission consent rules (CD March 7 p17). The rule would remove network nonduplication protection for broadcasters that elect retransmission consent and give cable operators and cable the “right to shop” for carriage of other network stations, said ACA Pres. Matthew Polka. “The fact that they [FCC] opened this up for comments shows that this issue needs scrutiny,” Polka said. ACA members are feeling the pinch from increasingly bitter retransmission negotiations with broadcasters, with cash-for-carriage the latest tactic that some broadcasters are using in test market cases. “We have kicked up a storm with this rulemaking, now it’s time to pull the curtain back on Oz,” he said.