Policy

Cable Operators May Forfeit Channel Capacity Without Compensation

America’s cities are losing nearly $500 million yearly in the wake of a decision by federal regulators to block local regulation of cable-modem service.

Cities across the country complained about the revenue drain in a Sept. 30 petition that asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Federal Communications Commission and re-establish their right to tax cable’s high-speed-data service, just as they do cable's video-programming revenue.

Legislation Would Assign Video-Franchising Authority to Public Service Commission

Two bills that would have enabled statewide cable franchising for new video entrants in Pennsylvania are dead for this year. Faced with an uphill battle to interest election-focused legislators in a complex cable-reform bill, as well as loud opposition from the measure’s municipal foes, sponsors of the two proposals withdrew their legislation from consideration.

Washington -- Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said Thursday that he’s concerned that Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable could “monopolize” local sports after the two MSOs buy Adelphia Communications Corp.’s 5 million subscribers.