Re: Must-carry rule

["Douglas J. Broda" <dougb@albany.net>]

At 08:29 AM 4/12/97 -0400, Sean P. Smyth wrote:
>Earlier, Doug Broda quoted a few passages from the FCC statement regarding
>local coverage, and I think these three could provide grounds to boot any
>home shopping station off of cable. (Here in Boston, we get the two
>national HSC stations, plus channels 50, 62, and 66. And I remember the
>early days of home shopping when stations like 27, 38, and 68 picked up
>that stuff too.)
>
>>(II) whether the television station provides coverage or other
>>local service to such community;
>
>How can a station provide a local service to the community when it is being
>offered on two other UHF stations and when its "studios" aren't being used.
>
>>(III) whether any other television station that is eligible to be
>>carried by a cable system in such community in fulfillment of the
>>requirements of this section provides news coverage of issues of concern to
>>such community or provides carriage or coverage of sporting and other
>>events of interest to the community; and
>
>Unless Candlepins count, for example, then I don't see any news and sports
>on these stations.
>
>>(IV) evidence of viewing patterns in cable and noncable
>>households      within the areas served by the cable system or systems in
>>such community.
>
>All full-time home shopping stations have no rating. 'Nuff said.
>
Sean:

Right... of course, my understanding is that the relief under this section
has to be brought either by the station or the cable system. That is, I
don't think individuals have standing.

That would mean that it has to be worth the system's while to petition the
FCC, which isn't a cheap thing.

------------------------------