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October 7, 2008 3:02:32 PM CDT

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FCC is Broken, Cable Group Chief Argues

Posted Nov 14, 07 11:44 PM CST in Technology,  Business 

(Newser) – The head of a cable television trade group bashed the head of the FCC today, accusing him of backing policies that “hurt the (cable) industry.” The issue causing most of the fuss, Broadcasting and Cable reports, is the proposed to mandate an a la carte pricing system, which would allow consumers to choose and pay individually for which channels they want.

In a conference call with reporters, Kyle McSlarrow also alleged that FCC chief Kevin Martin favors telecom companies over cable operators, and slammed the commission for leaking proposals to reporters before discussing with industry. The FCC denied the allegations, but noted consumer cable costs doubled from 1995-2005, when other industries saw price cuts. “The cable industry needs more competition,” a spokeswoman concluded.

Source Broadcasting & Cable

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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin speaks during a hearing on localism, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at the FCC headquarters in Washington. Federal regulators on Wednesday, Oct....   (Associated Press)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin, left, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Feb. 1, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)   (Associated Press)
CN8's Carla Showell-Lee, left, interviews Teddy Pendergrass an advocate for people with spinal cord injuries in Philadelphia, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Comcast and other cable operators such as Time Warner...   (Associated Press)
People walk by the Time Warner building, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff)   (Associated Press)
A sign bearing Comcast's name hangs in the lobby of its state headquarters in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, file)   (Associated Press)
(AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero)   (Associated Press)
FCC Commissioner Tate feels the love in the PBS KIDS Sprout booth at the National Cable Show (NCTA) in Las Vegas, Monday May 7, 2007. Elmo and PBS KIDS Sprout's Banjo from the preschool network's new...   (Associated Press)
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FCC  • Kevin Martin  • telecom industry  • cable operators  • a la carte pricing


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