ACA: FCC Should Protect Out-of-Market Station Access

The American Cable Association wants the Federal Communications Commission to go beyond removing regulations that prevent cable operators from importing out-of-market TV stations to expressly prohibiting broadcast networks from discouraging or preventing their affiliates from negotiating that exclusivity through contracts. ACA says the FCC could make that a per se violation of good faith negotiation or clarify that it already violates the good faith requirement. The FCC is currently reviewing the definition of good faith negotiations per congressional directive. ACA has asked the FCC to prohibit TV networks from "blocking or disincentivizing" their affiliates from signing retransmission contracts with out-of-market cable operators, particularly involving traditionally viewed stations.