Commission seeks comment on cable ownership rules

The Federal Communications Commission announced the adoption of a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to examine cable horizontal and vertical ownership limits.

The notice asks for empirical evidence to enable the commission to formulate sustainable cable horizontal and vertical ownership limits. The notice also seeks suggestions on regulatory approaches and solicits empirical evidence and theoretical justification supporting or contradicting each of the suggested approaches by taking the following actions:

  • Examining the legal framework governing cable ownership,
  • Examining industry developments that may affect the development of sustainable cable ownership limits,
  • Examining the relevant product and geographic markets, the economic basis for establishing particular cable horizontal and vertical ownership limits and the potential benefits and harms of cable industry consolidation; and
  • Addressing the viability of proposals for setting limits suggested in the record in response to the 2001 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.

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