Coalitions Take Competing Stances Over 'Multicasting' Rules

Two coalitions of public-interest advocates are taking different lobbying approaches to the question of whether broadcasters should obtain carriage of multiple channels on cable systems -- so-called multicasting. One coalition -- including Consumers Union and Free Press -- adamantly opposes a multicast "must carry" mandate, which broadcasters are seeking in exchange for a fixed date on the transition to digital television. "There exists no compelling public policy reason" for the multicast mandate, the group said in a letter to the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Commerce committees. The Consumers Union coalition -- which also includes the Consumer Federation of America and Center for Digital Democracy -- is raising concerns about media concentration being exacerbated by a multicast mandate that would grant up to five new channels for each broadcaster. But a rival group led by the Campaign Legal Center offered an alternative approach. "No decision on must-carry should be made until and unless your committees have set forth provisions which spell out meaningful and effective public-interest obligations for digital television broadcasters," that group wrote in another letter to the committees. "Not only will clear public interest obligation ensure strong civic discourse and quality programming for viewers, but it will also increase certainty for broadcasters who must build a business model that can succeed in a new, extremely competitive environment," said that group -- which included Common Cause, the Media Access Project, the New America Foundation and the United Church of Christ.
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]