Deregulation derailed; satellite, consumer complaints over access, rates could prod Congress away from 1996 act. (Telecommunications Act of 1996)

Broadcasting & Cable, November, 1997 by Albiniak, Paige

Complaints from cable's competitors about access to programming--along with complaints from voters about rising cable rates--are sending Congress the message that deregulating cable might not be a good idea just yet. In the next session, Congress will consider regulating cable rates past March 1999--the deregulation date set by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Lawmakers also say they will rewrite laws that will govern the satellite industry beyond December 1999, aiming to make direct broadcast satellite more competitive with cable. "Competition to the cable industry is not approaching in such a way that makes March 1999 a realistic date," said Representative Ed Markey (D-Mass.) late last month. "Congress should not continue singing the same...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Premium Content Partnership | HighBeam Research provides an in-depth online archive library of reference works.