Broadcast vs. Cable: Should DTV Must-Carry be Expanded, Sunset, or Preserved As-Is?

On February 10, 2005 the FCC rejected a proposal to expand broadcasters’ must-carry rights on cable TV systems to include the multiple channels of programming that each station can transmit in digital. Now the battle moves to Congress, where House Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) has promised early action on a comprehensive bill to end the long-delayed DTV transition.

Setting a deadline for the end of analog TV will free up invaluable spectrum for wireless broadband — and raise billions in auction revenue. But the broadcasters want a quid pro quo: they want government to force cable and satellite systems (where 85% of Americans see TV) to carry all local station program streams. Cable argues that broadcast licensees should negotiate for carriage like any other content provider — and that local stations are not even promising to offer enhanced public service programming, such as local civic and electoral coverage. Billions of dollars are again at stake, along with fundamental issues concerning the future of our media and telecommunications systems.

Join us for a debate over the future of must-carry. Should it be expanded, sunset, or preserved as is? In the coming age of Internet TV, will must-carry outlive its usefulness? Do broadcaster bits carry such remarkable content that they deserve must-carry rights? Will expanding broadcaster must-carry rights really speed up the return of 108 MHz of broadcast band spectrum? Should broadcasters get must-carry rights to one or more programming streams? These important questions, and more, will be on the table for frank and honest debate.

Participants

• Marsha Macbride
  Executive Vice President, National Association of Broadcasters
• Dan Brenner
  Senior Vice President, National Cable and Telecommunications Association
• Frank Wright
  President, National Religious Broadcasters
• J.H. Snider
  Research Director, New America Foundation
• Michael Calabrese
  Vice President and Director, Wireless Future Program, New America Foundation