Congress should step in to prevent digital program stripping, Rehr says

The head of the NAB told the House Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee May 10 in a written statement that Congress should direct the FCC to prevent cable and satellite operators from “stripping out” the digital program streams of broadcasters.

According to the statement from NAB president and CEO David Rehr, many broadcasters have “encountered resistance from cable operators who have denied, delayed or otherwise impeded delivery of the full digital signal to cable consumers.”

Stripping out broadcasters’ digital content is contrary to the 1992 Cable Act, according to Rehr’s statement.

Rehr also shed some light on the extent of the HD rollout by broadcasters. Today, major broadcast networks deliver most of their popular programming and sports in HD. Additionally, about 45 local stations throughout the country broadcast their local news in HD.

For more information, visit www.nab.org/xert/corpcomm/pressrel/releases/051007_Future_of_Video.pdf.