Sachs Response to Broadcasting Industry Oct 29 Ex Parte Filing at FCC

Statement of Robert Sachs, President & CEO
National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA)
In Response to Broadcasting Industry October 29 Ex Parte Filing at FCC
Regarding the Digital Television Transition

“The latest FCC filing by the broadcast industry is simply a recycled version of broadcasters' previous demands that cable operators be required by the Commission to carry half a dozen or more video channels per broadcast station rather than let multicast carriage be determined by market competition with other program networks. The FCC previously has held that that the Communications Act only entitles broadcast stations to must carry of a single digital video channel, and this latest broadcast submission offers no new legal justification for the FCC to reverse its position.  Ironically, the broadcasters' so-called ‘plan to complete the digital transition' comes just weeks after broadcast organizations killed legislation that would have set a date certain for the return of the analog spectrum occupied by TV stations. The broadcast industry's submission does nothing to advance the digital TV transition or promote a serious discussion about how to complete the transition. Meanwhile, cable operators are voluntarily carrying the digital signals of more than 450 stations that offer HDTV and other compelling digital content.  It's unfortunate that a majority of broadcasters have yet to offer any high definition programming."