AT&T backs TV multicasts, ahead of likely FCC move

AT&T BACKS TV MULTICAST, AHEAD OF LIKELY FCC MOVE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
AT&T, the No. 1 U.S. telephone company which is expanding into video, is willing to carry extra channels television broadcasters plan to offer and is in talks to do so. The Federal Communications Commission could vote next week to require cable companies to carry additional channels that the traditional over-the-air broadcasters are developing as they switch to digital airwaves. The extra channels could include news, sports and home shopping, among other programming. As the broadcasters make the switch to digital, the new technology affords them the ability to offer the additional channels, a practice known as multicasting. So far, the FCC has only allowed a broadcaster to force cable to carry its primary signal, ensuring that subscribers can get the main broadcast stations. AT&T has argued that it is not a cable company and therefore not subject to that regulatory regime, but has also told the FCC that it is willing to accommodate the extra channels that broadcasters are planning and starting to offer.
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