Leased Access: How Much?
Leased Access Programmers Association Head Charlie Stogner Tries to Get New Rates from Cable Operators
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/21/2008 1:34:00 PM
The head of the Leased Access Programmers Association, Charlie Stogner, has been trying to find out how much he should be paying to lease space from cable operators, so far to no avail, he said.
The Federal Communications Commission earlier this year voted to lower the rate cable operators can charge, arguing that it would spur competition and diversity in multichannel-video programming. The rules were set to kick in May 28, but the Office of Management and Budget reviews drafts of many new regulations -- including the leased-access order -- per the 1980 Paperwork Reduction Act to make sure they don't unnecessarily lead to more paperwork.
The Bush administration has been trying to better enforce the 90-day limit on that OMB review, so Stogner wants to find out when the draft was submitted so he can try to figure out when cable operators will be required to quote him a new rate.
"The delays in new rules, especially the rates, becoming effective are really hurting those of us that struggle to have cable cooperate," he said in an e-mail to FCC deputy general counsel Joseph Palmore.
Cable operators and networks have sought to block implementation of the new leased-access rule changes, both at the FCC and in court, but so far the rules are still scheduled to kick in whenever the OMB OKs them and they are published in the Federal Register.
The FCC released the new rule changes in February, having voted in November to lower the rates cable operators charge and speed up the complaint process. The commission’s majority argued that the change would lead to greater program diversity.
An FCC spokesman said that the FCC submitted the rules April 28, which means OMB has until the end of June to reply, a timetable an angry Stogner called unacceptable given that the FCC adopted the rules in late 2007.
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I am currently trying to lease a channel in Missouri. I based my bussiness plan on what I read on the FCC web site stating that the new rates would go in effect 90 days after published in the Federal Register. Those rates were published on Feb. 28 and I assumed as well as my banker did that the rates would go into effect on May 28th. Am I wrong to believe a branch of the U.S. goverment? It appears So.
I also was under the impression that the FCC was there to help Leased Access Programers with the tactics that the MSO''s are using to break you or just make you go away. I saddly was wrong and now after spending the money to launch a channel on June 1st they say No way! Now I am just another independant programmer with a bank note and no abillity to repay. Thanks FCC you have shown your true colors and it''s not in the publics best interest but only MSO''s like Charter Cable. George Scott Smith
George Scott Smith - 5/22/2008 11:55:00 AM EDT -
I am currently trying to lease a channel in Missouri. I based my bussiness plan on what I read on the FCC web site stating that the new rates would go in effect 90 days after published in the Federal Register. Those rates were published on Feb. 28 and I assumed as well as my banker did that the rates would go into effect on May 28th. Am I wrong to believe a branch of the U.S. goverment? It appears So.
I also was under the impression that the FCC was there to help Leased Access Programers with the tactics that the MSO''s are using to break you or just make you go away. I saddly was wrong and now after spending the money to launch a channel on June 1st they say No way! Now I am just another independant programmer with a bank note and no abillity to repay. Thanks FCC you have shown your true colors and it''s not in the publics best interest but only MSO''s like Charter Cable. George Scott Smith
George Scott Smith - 5/22/2008 11:53:00 AM EDT -
Now, how much can the Federal government complicate a simple matter. Adopt new rules and say that it in effective 90 days after the date of publish in the Federal Register. Now we find out they were just kidding. Excuse me, how simple can this be ? oh wait, this is the FCC (Federal Cable Corporation), nevermind.
Now if we can get the FCC (hopefully the real one) to define what is technically possible.
Duane Polich - 5/21/2008 9:37:00 PM EDT
FCC Releases Leased-Access-Rules Order
02/04/2008
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