FCC Grants Cablevision DBS Extension
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 4/23/2003 4:00:00 AM
The federal government Tuesday gave Cablevision Systems Corp. until Aug. 31 to launch its Rainbow 1 direct-broadcast satellite and until no later than Dec. 29 to launch service.
Cablevision, the sixth-largest cable company, is planning to enter the DBS market offering both national and local programming in dozens of markets. The business plan includes high-definition programming.
Due to technical problems with the Lockheed Martin Corp. rocket, Cablevision asked the Federal Communications Commission to move the launch deadline from March 29 to May 29. In a subsequent request, the MSO sought an extension to Aug. 31.
The FCC granted the Aug. 31 extension in ruling by Thomas S. Tycz, chief of the International Bureau's satellite division.
The ruling also permitted Cablevision to use its satellite to transmit 22 spot beams, but the commission said international approvals had to be obtained to resolve potential spectrum-interference problems with the spot-beam configuration.
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