Martin Says Congress Could Mandate A La Carte

MARTIN SAYS CONGRESS COULD MANDATE A LA CARTE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's push for cable a la rate just became a shove. The chairman said Tuesday that Congress may want to mandate a la carte as a way to help viewers deal with controlling indecent and/or violent content. That came in a House appropriations committee hearing where Chairman Martin was defending his agency's budget but also responding to questions about content issues. Chairman Martin was asked about indecency and explained that he had been suggesting a la carte to the cable industry as a way to control content and prices, but that the industry had not been receptive to the suggestion. He then agreed with one legislator that it might be time for Congress to step in and that that would be a good thing.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434492.html

* Chairman Martin Prepared Testimony
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-272381A1.doc

* Martin Endorses a la Carte Legislation
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6434611.html

* Religious Broadcasters: A La Carte Is a 'Dagger'
The Faith and Family Broadcasting Coalition -- which represents religious broadcasters including Dr. Paul Crouch of Trinity, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson -- said cable a la carte is a "dagger aimed at the heart of religious broadcasting in America."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434589.html