Chairman blogs that FCC will not be modifying “totality of the circumstances” test on his watch. In the long-running retransmission consent war pitting broadcasters against MVPDs, a major threat to the status quo has been averted: according to a blog posted on the FCC’s website by Chairman Tom Wheeler, the Commission has opted not to … Continue Reading
Last October we reported on a number of changes in the Commission’s market modification processes, changes made at the direction of Congress (in the STELA Reauthorization Act (STELAR) back in 2014). But as we pointed out when most of those changes took effect, a couple of the revisions could not kick in until OMB had … Continue Reading
STELAR-mandated changes permit market modifications for satellite carriage; some cable matters tweaked, too The market modification process is about to get, um, modified, and thanks to Congress, it will be more inclusive as a result. In fact, the FCC has already signed off on the changes and some, but not all, of them are set … Continue Reading
Here’s your chance to let the FCC know how to assess the “good faith” of parties to a retrans negotiation. While many (if not most) television licensees are likely trying to sift through the several hundreds of pages of FCC materials laying out the fast-approaching incentive auction process, it’s important not to lose sight of … Continue Reading
Thanks to Congress, we can be expecting some old and some new standards governing MVPD and satellite market modification proceedings,… Continue Reading
Christmas is coming early this year ... if, that is, you're a direct broadcast satellite (DBS), cable or other MVPD operator, or a low power TV licensee.… Continue Reading