FCC Tees Up Dual-Carriage Plan

FCC TEES UP DUAL-CARRIAGE PLAN
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote next Wednesday on a proposal that would allow TV stations to demand digital and analog carriage on cable systems until the systems had transitioned subscribers to a digital-only platform. FCC chairman Kevin Martin is seeking majority support for yet another plan controversial with cable’s largest trade group, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. Last summer, Martin failed in his quest to force multicast must-carry on cable -- a mandate that would have required carriage of every free digital-programming service that TV stations can pack into their 6-megahertz allotments, or 4-6 channels based on current technology. If adopted, the new Martin plan would kick in immediately after Feb. 17, 2009, the date mandated by Congress for all full-power TV stations to rely exclusively on digital transmission. The agency is slated to adopt a notice of proposed rulemaking that contains Martin’s digital-TV-policy preferences regarding cable carriage. Final rules -- which cable can seek to overturn in court -- probably wouldn't be announced for another year.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6434962.html

* Martin Proposes Dual Station Carriage
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434967.html