The Media Access Project became the first entity to support tougher...
The Media Access Project became the first entity to support tougher program carriage rules since a proposed FCC order on them (CD June 3 p2) circulated May 3, an ex parte filing posted this week in docket 07-42 said. Also…
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this week, a filing from Cablevision said the cable operator continues opposing new rules. “Much stronger rules are needed to protect the interests of independent programmers” in general, MAP Senior Vice President Andrew Schwartzman reported telling an aide to Commissioner Michael Copps. Schwartzman said he “also expressed skepticism at the notion that stronger rules would raise cognizable First Amendment questions in light of the fact that the rules are viewpoint neutral and have been upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.” Cablevision said it believes changing program carriage rules is “unnecessary in light of predominance of non-vertically integrated video programmers in the marketplace today and that there is no evidence MVPDs are engaging in harmful discrimination against independent programmers” by favoring channels an operator owns over indies. Company representatives met with aides to Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Robert McDowell.