FCC: Cablevision/MSG Network Violated Program-Access Rules

The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau has ruled that Cablevision/Madison Square Garden Network violated FCC program access rules by withholding high definition versions of MSG and MSG-Plus from Verizon and AT&T.

The FCC ruled that it was an "unfair act" that "had the effect" of "significantly hindering AT&T [and Verizon] from providing a competing video service." The FCC said MSG had 30 days to make the nets available to both AT&T and Verizon on reasonable terms and conditions. Verizon and AT&T said it was a win for consumers, while Cablevision said the FCC's Media Bureau had not gotten its facts straight. The decisions follow the FCC's move to close the so-called terrestrial loophole/exemption that had prevented access complaints against withholding of affiliated terrestrially-delivered networks. The FCC gave AT&T and Verizon a chance to refile their complaints under a new standard of unfairness.