The End of Program-Access Rules?

THE END OF PROGRAM-ACCESS RULES?
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Program-access rules, enacted by Congress in 1992, were extended by the Federal Communications Commission in 2002 for five years. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Wednesday that the agency would soon consider whether to extend the rules or allow them to sunset in October 2007. Under the rules, cable operators are required to sell their satellite-delivered channels to any multichannnel pay TV provider .Terrestrially-delivered channels are not covered, allowing Comcast to withhold SportsNet Philadelphia from DirecTV and EchoStar Communications.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6397951.html?display=Breaking+News

Also see --

* Specter Criticizes Cablevision Absence
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) was not happy with the absence of Cablevision from a hearing Thursday on cable sports programming.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6397950?display=Breaking+News

* Judiciary Chair Threatens NFL Antitrust Exemption
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6397982.html?display=Breaking+News