FCC To Soon Extend Franchise Relief To Cable Companies

FCC TO SOON EXTEND FRANCHISE RELIEF TO CABLE COMPANIES
[SOURCE: DowJones, AUTHOR: Corey Boles corey.boles@dowjones.com]
The Federal Communications Commission will shortly extend the same regulatory relief to the cable industry that it granted to telephone companies earlier this year. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told the other four commissioners to be ready to vote on the matter at the agency's meeting Oct. 31. There is a chance a majority of the commissioners could vote in favor of the item before the meeting. The vote is likely to be along party lines, as it was in December for the initial changes, with the two Democratic commissioners opposed. It is unclear whether the move would impact cable companies immediately or when their franchises come up for renewal, generally every 10 years or so.
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