Last week, cable operators lobbied at the last minute against an ...
Last week, cable operators lobbied at the last minute against an ownership cap before the Tuesday start of the so- called sunshine period barring outreach seven days before a meeting at which commissioners are scheduled to vote on it.…
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FCC members seem likely to approve the order to cap at 30 percent the proportion of pay-TV subscribers any operator can have, an industry official said. Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps have signaled they'll vote for the order, agency and industry sources said. Others say Commissioners Robert McDowell and Deborah Tate may dissent (CD Dec 3 p2). Tuesday, Advance/Newhouse Communications Chairman Robert Miron wrote each commissioner, asking them not to approve the cap, because it poses a broad financial threat to industry. “The financial markets will react negatively to any commission action here,” he wrote. “It could well affect valuations and the cost and availability of capital. It will negatively impact jobs.” Miron said if the order takes effect it will stifle broadband deployment. Cable operators sell packages of high-speed Internet, phone and digital video, he said. In meetings with Adelstein, Comcast officials cited “the unavoidable relationship of an ownership limitation and broadband deployment,” according to an ex parte filing. Cablevision wrote aides to each commissioner to oppose a cap.