FCC Concludes 70/70 Threshold Not Met

The Federal Communications Commission finally released its 2006 cable competition report late Friday, and it turns out cable did not meet the 70/70 threshold for re-regulation after all. According to the report, 68% of multichannel video households subscribe to cable, with the figure trending "slightly" downward, according to the FCC. That is primarily thanks to satellite TV, with a little help from the telcos. Satellite operators as of 2006 claimed 29.2% of multichannel video subs. The video competition report had initially concluded that cable had met the 70/70 benchmark, which is cable systems with more than 36 channels passing 70% of households, with 70% of those subscribing to it. Cable has long since topped the first of those, claiming about 85% penetration, but the industry has argued it is nowhere near the 70% figure, with that number declining thanks to competitors.