Martin Proposes Seeking More Data on 70/70 Test

MARTIN PROPOSES SEEKING MORE DATA ON 70/70 TEST
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin proposed modifying compelling the cable industry to quickly come up with data to help the FCC determine whether or not it needs to be more heavily regulated. The news came in an announcement Tuesday from Chairman Martin to reporters waiting for the start of the delayed FCC meeting, at which the Commission planned to vote on the report. Martin said a majority of commissioners had expressed interest in seeking additional data from the cable industry in a "short time frame." He had been getting push back from his own Republican commissioners on that 70/70 conclusion, which had been based on data from Warren Communications that found that cable subscribership had passed the 70% figure that could trigger regulation. Chairman Martin said the FCC planned to still use the Warren data, but it would supplement it with other industry data if the proposal were adopted. Warren has said that its data are good as far as they go but incomplete because some operators did not respond to its survey.
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http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6505759.html?rssid=193