A group of Democratic senators is calling on the FCC to consider whether broadcast and cable rules should be extended to streaming channels to ensure that local channels can be distributed on the new platforms.
The senators, all Democrats and independents, wrote a letter to the FCC’s five commissioners “out of concern for the future of the media marketplace and our constituents’ ability to access broadcasters’ unique, locally focused content on streaming platforms.”
The letter comes amid high-profile broadcast and cable conflicts that recently led to the suspension of Disney stations and channels from Spectrum’s systems, as well as growing concerns about the future of linear television in general.
Traditional media is bound by a set of rules outlined in the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992. It requires cable providers to negotiate directly with local television stations for rebroadcasting of their programs, paving the way for a profitable source of revenue for broadcasters.
The senators, led by Senator Ben Ray Lujan, noted that so-called “virtual MVPDs” such as Hulu and YouTube TV are not subject to the same regulations.
The FCC began a process in 2014 to examine whether the regulations could be extended to these platforms, but did not go any further. Lawmakers want the FCC to reopen this process.
The senators noted that since then “there has been a tremendous change in the market and in the way people access video content.” Internet-based streaming services now dominate a significant portion of the video programming distribution market — and that’s expected. to grow as streaming companies actively encourage consumers to switch from traditional television providers such as cable and satellite television to virtual offerings and other video streaming services. “
Read the senators’ letter.
The senators added: “As an expert agency, the Commission should prepare a protocol
Recommendations to ensure that our regulatory system – which has enabled a thriving, locally focused broadcasting system that is the envy of the world – is not undermined by an explosion of new technologies that could not have been foreseen even a decade ago.”
The National Broadcasting Association asked that the proceedings be reopened. Curtis LeGeyt, president and CEO of the trade and lobbying group, said in a statement: “While the television market has changed dramatically in recent years, viewers still expect and deserve access to their local television news stations — regardless of platform.”
An FCC spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Source: Deadline
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
