Mediacom Says Cable Ops Should Be Able to Jointly Negotiate Retransmission

Since broadcasters are allowed to negotiate collectively in retransmission deals, smaller cable operators want to be able to do the same.

In a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, Mediacom Chairman Rocco Commisso says that if the FCC really wants to "address the imbalance in negotiating power between stations groups and smaller cable operators," as the chairman suggested when addressing the American Cable Association, he has just the ticket. Commisso said the FCC could either limit the participation of networks in retrans negotiations, or, alternately, level the playing field by allowing smaller operators to designate larger ones to negotiate on their behalf, and not allow stations to refuse to negotiate with that designee.