Publication Type: Statement
Date: 4/17/2007CONTACT: Brian Dietz, 202-222-2358
Brian Dietz, Vice President of Communications, National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), issued this comment in response to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin's testimony today before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government:
“It's unfortunate that Chairman Martin continues to promote government-mandated a la carte when the vast majority of evidence shows it would raise prices for most consumers and harm diversity in programming. The Canadian example that Chairman Martin cites has nothing to do with the U.S. market and actually offers fewer benefits than portrayed. U.S. cable and satellite providers currently offer their customers the most diverse selection of programming found anywhere in the world. A mandated a la carte system is a lose-lose proposition – it would jeopardize the broad diversity in programming that American consumers enjoy while raising prices for less choice.”
NCTA is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. The cable industry is the nation’s largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access after investing more than $100 billion over ten years to build a two-way interactive network with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to millions of American consumers.
Related Publications
1/17/2009
Government Mandated A La Carte: Making You Pay More for Less
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Abstract: The marketplace should dictate programming and marketing decisions. Without government regulation, an impressive and vibrant cable programming industry has developed over the past 25 years. Today, cable offers consumers a tremendous entertainment value. We don’t need a U.S. Department of Television.Attachment: A La Carte Issue Brief _detailed_-January 2009.pdf (34 KB)Issue Brief(s): A La CartePublication Type: Talking Points