Must-carry rulemaking

Broadcasting & Cable, July, 1998

FCC officials expect Thursday to launch their long-awaited effort to decide how must-carry rules will apply to digital broadcast signals. But sources say the rulemaking proposal will offer little hint as to how commissioners will ultimately rule on whether cable companies should be required to carry local digital broadcast signals.

Officials say the proposal poses questions and invites comments, but takes no tentative position on the outcome. At week's end commissioners also decided they want more time to mull a rule to implement the FCC's new authority to auction unassigned radio and TV licenses. Commissioners had planned a vote on the rule this week but decided to pull it from the meeting's agenda.