FCC Votes to Eliminate Terrestrial Exemption
Today, the FCC voted 4-1 to close the terrestrial exemption that had been used by cable companies to keep certain regional sports networks they owned and operated from satellite providers. The move, which will likely be challenged almost immediately in federal court, will restrict the ability of cable companies to withhold programming from competitors. No immediate action will be taken to open access to these channels to competitors, but the indication is that this is the first step in making these channels available to satellite providers. (more…)