FCC Looks to Revive Leased Access Rules

The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday took the first step toward revising cable leased access rules in response to objections raised by the budget arm of the Bush administration. The national media and communications regulator decided to seek public comment on two proposals by the Media Access Project, a public interest law firm representing the United Church of Christ's Office of Communication. In an Aug. 26 filing, MAP asked the FCC to exercise its authority and overrule the Office of Management and Budget, which refused to approve the FCC's implementation of regulations for the new cable leased access rules, particularly the vast information collection requirements. OMB, which is under direct White House control, said the FCC's data collection burden placed on cable operators violated the Paperwork Reduction Act, a law designed to reduce bureaucratic red tape on regulated entities, especially small business. MAP also urged the FCC to revise its rate formula to address cable's objections that lease access programmers could get on cable systems by paying nothing. The FCC is accepting initial public comments until Sept. 24 and subsequent responses by Oct. 1.