Some Capitol Hill Democrats may not resist a GOP House appropriations rider that would slow the FCC’s set-top box proceeding. House Republicans hitched the rider to the FY 2017 FCC funding bill unveiled last week. Some Democrats in both chambers oppose the language, but many also question the NPRM. Bipartisan and bicameral backing is widely seen as crucial for ensuring riders’ inclusion in any broader FY 2017 government funding package later this year.
The FCC's "record is replete with comments from minority programmers who have been locked out from carriage on traditional cable networks,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, responding to a group of more than 50 House Democrats in a May 23 letter released Wednesday. Reps. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., and Gene Green, D-Texas, led that letter, sent in late April, urging a pause to the set-top proceeding while further study is done. “For the sake of these entrepreneurs and the audiences they hope to reach, we must move forward. Our proposal would provide minority and independent programmers with an equal opportunity to reach their audiences," Wheeler said. "The proposal would facilitate competition in interfaces, search functions, and integration of programming sources, all of which would provide programmers with a greater ability to find audiences and consumers with a greater ability to access independent and minority programming,” The NPRM won't disrupt existing relationships, he said. Wheeler included a quote from BET CEO Debra Lee saying the NPRM would give away the network’s programming for free, but Wheeler assured Democrats that “nothing in the proposal would require anyone to give away their content for free.” Wheeler countered TV One CEO Alfred Liggins’ claim the programming market is currently working for minority content providers in reaching consumers. “Comments in the record take the opposite view,” Wheeler said. “For instance, GFNTV submitted comments that ‘minority programmers will not be able to grow and thrive with the current system.' Ultimately, the record being developed will answer this question.” He also defended the copyright protections contemplated in his NPRM. Wheeler offered a similar defense of the NPRM in a separate response to two other House Democrats, also released Wednesday. Lee recently told the FCC of her concerns (see 1605310063).
The FCC's "record is replete with comments from minority programmers who have been locked out from carriage on traditional cable networks,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, responding to a group of more than 50 House Democrats in a May 23 letter released Wednesday. Reps. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., and Gene Green, D-Texas, led that letter, sent in late April, urging a pause to the set-top proceeding while further study is done. “For the sake of these entrepreneurs and the audiences they hope to reach, we must move forward. Our proposal would provide minority and independent programmers with an equal opportunity to reach their audiences," Wheeler said. "The proposal would facilitate competition in interfaces, search functions, and integration of programming sources, all of which would provide programmers with a greater ability to find audiences and consumers with a greater ability to access independent and minority programming,” The NPRM won't disrupt existing relationships, he said. Wheeler included a quote from BET CEO Debra Lee saying the NPRM would give away the network’s programming for free, but Wheeler assured Democrats that “nothing in the proposal would require anyone to give away their content for free.” Wheeler countered TV One CEO Alfred Liggins’ claim the programming market is currently working for minority content providers in reaching consumers. “Comments in the record take the opposite view,” Wheeler said. “For instance, GFNTV submitted comments that ‘minority programmers will not be able to grow and thrive with the current system.' Ultimately, the record being developed will answer this question.” He also defended the copyright protections contemplated in his NPRM. Wheeler offered a similar defense of the NPRM in a separate response to two other House Democrats, also released Wednesday. Lee recently told the FCC of her concerns (see 1605310063).
Democratic House appropriators slammed the GOP FY 2017 FCC funding bill Wednesday during a brief Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee markup. They criticized the measure for its policy riders and what they consider underfunding for agencies including the FCC. The subcommittee cleared the legislation despite the opposition, without changes.
Democratic House appropriators slammed the GOP FY 2017 FCC funding bill Wednesday during a brief Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee markup. They criticized the measure for its policy riders and what they consider underfunding for agencies including the FCC. The subcommittee cleared the legislation despite the opposition, without changes.
House Republicans are targeting the FCC set-top box rulemaking in an FY 2017 funding bill that also would slash the agency’s budget by tens of millions of dollars per year to $314.84 million. GOP appropriators loaded the funding bill, unveiled Tuesday, with policy riders curbing FCC action against broadcaster joint sales agreements, on its set-top box proceeding and on various provisions involving net neutrality. The Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee will mark up the bill at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in 2358-C Rayburn.
House Republicans are targeting the FCC set-top box rulemaking in an FY 2017 funding bill that also would slash the agency’s budget by tens of millions of dollars per year to $314.84 million. GOP appropriators loaded the funding bill, unveiled Tuesday, with policy riders curbing FCC action against broadcaster joint sales agreements, on its set-top box proceeding and on various provisions involving net neutrality. The Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee will mark up the bill at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in 2358-C Rayburn.
House Republicans are targeting the FCC set-top box rulemaking in an FY 2017 funding bill that also would slash the agency’s budget by tens of millions of dollars per year to $314.84 million. GOP appropriators loaded the funding bill, unveiled Tuesday, with policy riders curbing FCC action against broadcaster joint sales agreements, on its set-top box proceeding and on various provisions involving net neutrality. The Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee will mark up the bill at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in 2358-C Rayburn.
The Senate Commerce Committee’s hearing Tuesday on the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) transition is likely to bring lingering skepticism about the transition back into the spotlight despite some optimism that preparations for the transition are steadily reaching their conclusion, ICANN stakeholders said in interviews. They said they will be following the House Appropriations Committee’s markup of its FY 2017 Commerce, Justice and Science budget, which includes a proposal to retain a rider that bars NTIA from using its funding on the IANA transition. House Appropriations’ Commerce Subcommittee advanced the $56 billion budget last week (see 1605180063). The Senate Commerce hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell. The House Appropriations markup begins at 10:30 a.m. in 2359 Rayburn.
The Senate Commerce Committee’s hearing Tuesday on the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) transition is likely to bring lingering skepticism about the transition back into the spotlight despite some optimism that preparations for the transition are steadily reaching their conclusion, ICANN stakeholders said in interviews. They said they will be following the House Appropriations Committee’s markup of its FY 2017 Commerce, Justice and Science budget, which includes a proposal to retain a rider that bars NTIA from using its funding on the IANA transition. House Appropriations’ Commerce Subcommittee advanced the $56 billion budget last week (see 1605180063). The Senate Commerce hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell. The House Appropriations markup begins at 10:30 a.m. in 2359 Rayburn.