Verizon FiOS Triggering Cable Dereg
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 1/24/2007 4:27:00 PM
The Federal Communications Commission Wednesday released a batch of orders that removed local price controls on basic-cable service, including two cases that involved Cablevision Systems in communities where Verizon Communications is deploying its FiOS TV all-fiber 180-channel video system.
In the vast majority of cases, the FCC has granted cable operators' “petitions for effective competition” based on satellite competition. If EchoStar Communications’ Dish Network and DirecTV combined serve 15% of the households in a franchise area, the local cable incumbent is price deregulated.
But Cablevision sought relief in two New York communities -- Nyack and Hempstead -- based on a different competition test that applies when the terrestrial video provider is a local phone company, also called a local-exchange carrier.
Under the so-called LEC test, all the cable incumbent has to do is demonstrate that the phone company has the capability and intent to compete for video subscribers. However, the LEC test doesn't have any subscriber-penetration requirement.
When the FCC grants a petition for effective competition, regardless of the test used, the local government loses authority to cap the price of the basic tier, which all cable subscribers must buy. In addition, cable operators do not have to offer a uniform rate structure and may require subscribers to purchase any number of programming tiers before they may access premium and pay-per-view offerings.
In other actions, the FCC, based largely on satellite competition, deregulated:
• Comcast systems in 42 Southern California franchise areas, including Downey, Inglewood and Santa Clarita.;
• Bright House Networks systems in Farmington Hills, Livonia, and Novi, Mich.; and
• Charter Communications systems in seven California communities, including Long Beach, Hidden Hills and Malibu.
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