ACA Lauds FCC's Review Of Broadcasters' Coordinated Retrans Negotiations

The American Cable Association commended the Federal Communications Commission for its Dec. 22 decision to examine coordinated retransmission consent bargaining practices by separately owned TV stations serving the same market, an issue ACA has been highlighting for a long time.

"ACA is very pleased that the FCC has sought comment on the impact of separately owned, same-market broadcasters who coordinate their action in the retransmission consent market. In comments filed with the FCC, ACA has shown that coordinated negotiation of retransmission consent harms local competition and artificially increases retransmission consent fees, which consumers absorb in the form of higher rates,” ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said. “ACA commends the FCC for taking this important next step in the process, which we hope will lead to an outright prohibition of a practice that harms competition and consumers."

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ACA Seeks Greater Transparency On Coordinated Retrans Negotiations

The American Cable Association called on the Federal Communications Commission to impose transparency requirements to prevent television station owners that coordinate their retransmission consent negotiations from keeping their price-fixing schemes a secret from the public and regulators charged with enforcing station ownership limits, retransmission consent rules, and antitrust statutes.

ACA said the FCC should require broadcasters to place in their online public file any agreement, regardless of name or purported "efficiencies," that one station enters into with another separately owned TV station in the same market for ready inspection by the public, regulators and others.

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For more ACA News visit the Newsroom on the ACA Website.

Across this vast country, small and rural markets participate in the digital revolution by receiving video, broadband, and phone services from nearly 900 small and medium-sized independent operators represented by the American Cable Association (ACA).

ACA’s members -- cable, phone, and fiber-to-the-home operators and municipalities -- deliver affordable basic and advanced services to about 7.6 million households and businesses. ACA members operate in every state, offering high-definition television, next generation Internet access, and digital phone service.

Access to advanced communications is not a luxury but a critical necessity for consumers and companies, schools and hospitals. America’s economic prosperity in smaller markets and rural areas depends on the growth and success of ACA members, who believe a connected nation, is a united nation.

The ACA asks lawmakers and regulators to ensure fair treatment so that small and medium-sized independent operators may continue to supply affordable video, broadband, and phone services to Main Street America. Through active participation in the policymaking process, ACA members and leaders advocate for the interests of their customers, their companies, and their communities to help ensure the continued viability of their way of life in hometown America.

For more information, visit www.americancable.org, or contact:

• Ted Hearn, VP Communications
  (202) 713-0826 | thearn@americancable.org
• Ross Lieberman, VP Government Affairs
  (202) 494-5661 | rlieberman@americancable.org

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