Groups Want New Leased Access Rate From Martin

GROUPS WANT NEW LEASED ACCESS RATE FROM MARTIN
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Media Access Project and Public Knowledge met with FCC Chairman Kevin martin asking for new rules designed to reduce the rates that third-party programmers pay to lease channel capacity from cable operators. MAP endorsed a rule that would determine a single, national leased access rate “using price information from Los Angeles and New York City, currently the two most competitive leased access markets.” Leased access programmers may buy time from cable operators as required under federal law and FCC rules. As a concept, leased access has always been at odds with the pay-TV business model, which is predicated on programmers receiving payment from their distributors. Leased access programmers have complained to the FCC that cable incumbents have been difficult negotiators in part because operators are allowed to fill unused leased access channels with their own programming.
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