Rep Latta: Nixing Integration Ban Is Win-Win

In advance of what is expected to be a bipartisan vote on a House Commerce Committee version of a bill reauthorizing the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (now christened the STELA Reauthorization, or STELAR, act), Rep Bob Latta (R-OH) talked about the importance of scrapping the ban on integrated set-tops, which he says will save cable operator costs and consumer's on their energy bills.

Rep Latta, vice chairman of the Communications Subcommittee, was instrumental in getting his CableCARD bill added to the legislation in the House Commerce Committee, a move strongly backed by cable operators. Also in the bill is a prohibition on coordinated retransmission consent negotiations among non-commonly owned TV stations in a market, another provision strongly backed by cable operators.

The bill, including both provisions, is expect to pass with bipartisan support on July 22 in the House. It is being voted on the suspension calendar, which is a short-cut for noncontroversial bills.