NCTA Claims Progress in Multicast Must-Carry Fight

Speaking to the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications, National Cable and Telecommunications Association President Kyle McSlarrow said the cable lobby is making progress in its fight to oppose broadcasters' push for "multicast must carry" (under which local cable operators would be forced to cover all of digital TV broadcasters signals, not just a primary one). But he wouldn't say whether cable operators will reach a compromise with broadcasters on congressional legislation that would give broadcasters carriage of a primary stream and two additional digital channels after the digital transition. "I have heard everything under the sun, but I haven't heard an official proposal," he said. He also appeared unsure when Congress will take up the issue. It could be next week or Oct. 19, when the Senate Commerce Committee is expected to mark up a DTV bill that includes a hard digital transition date, renewal of spectrum authority and a subsidy provision. The bill will be part of the budget reconciliation package that must be delivered to the Senate Budget Committee. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has said he plans a 2nd DTV bill that would deal with other provisions, including multicast mustcarry, but no timing is set for that bill. The House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) opposes including a multicast provision in a DTV bill. McSlarrow said cable operators are making an argument based on diversity: "If the broadcasters are going to get a claim on the cable pipe broader than we think they have a right to," it will hinder diversity of viewpoints. "The one place we know in the TV industry that has provided the source of diversity that we now take for granted is the cable industry. It hasn't been the broadcasters."
(Not available online)
See also:
* McSlarrow: Multicast an Uphill Fight
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