FCC to review rules for cable rates, retransmission consent

In news that could be cheered by small cable operators, the FCC said it plans to review its rules for regulating cable rates as part of its review of regulations impacting "small entities."

The commission, which is already looking at rules it has for the way cable operators can craft retransmission consent deals with local broadcasters, said it will also add retransmission consent to a list of rules that it plans to review for their impact on small companies.

It's not clear what changes, if any, the commission may make to rules involving cable rates and retransmission consent. Cable operators often point to licensing deals for cable networks that broadcasters tie to retransmission consent agreements for local TV stations as one of the reasons they are forced to hike rates for their programming packages.

For more:
- see this Broadcasting & Cable story

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