How the FCC could use an obscure Internet power to change the pay-TV market

On Feb 26, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on the government's strict new network neutrality rules for Internet providers. And while the proposed regulations are mainly focused on whether companies like Comcast can block or slow Web sites, a small piece of the rules could give the government wider authority over television programming -- and by extension, your TV experience. Here's how.

The FCC has a mission: To promote the rapid deployment of high-speed Internet. Under this mission, codified in Section 706 of the Communications Act, it's seen fit to knock down what it sees as barriers to the rollout of broadband. Some Washington lobbyists are beginning to argue that this mission doesn't just cover the Internet. Advocates for pay-TV providers are saying the FCC should use Section 706 to act more aggressively against the companies that produce TV content. Why? Because the pay-TV providers think the content producers are charging them too much for programming -- and because programming costs eat into the budget for building, say, cable broadband, what hurts pay-TV providers could hurt the spread of broadband. If the FCC someday decides that yes, the cost of TV programming is hurting the rollout of broadband, it's not that big a leap to regulatory action. Those actions could have powerful implications for what you pay your cable provider, among other things.