ACA Summit: Sen. Heller Says Video Regulations Need Reboot

Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) said that it made no sense that cable operators delivering video over a pipe into the home would be regulated while over-the-top providers are not.

"So, you are left with older companies regulated and newer, innovative companies unregulated. And they are doing, frankly, the exact same thing." Sen Heller, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, drew applause from the small and midsized cable operators gathered for the annual American Cable Association summit in Washington when he said that the committee should look into the outdated Cable Act and 1996 Communications Act regulations as part of a broader review of video regulation in general. He said that as the world barreled toward an all-IP future, he wasn't sure there was sufficient infrastructure to accommodate 200 million plus households streaming the Super Bowl. What was the government doing about that? Not enough, he said, and pledged to try an correct that. It will be a tall order given that he is in the minority.