House Dems: Data Caps, SpectrumCo Key Future of Video Issues

Staff memo differs somewhat from GOP list of topics for hearing

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/26/2012 4:44:53 PM

Not surprisingly, the House Communications Subcommittee Democratic staffers have a slight different to-do list than their Republican counterparts. While over-the-top video, retrans rules and Dish's Hopper ad-skipping DVR are on both lists of key topics that might come up in the June 27 future of video hearing in the subcommittee, Democrats have a couple more on their list.

According to a copy of the Democrats' memo on the hearing, data caps are a key issue, as is the sale of spectrum from cable operators to Verizon.

The Dems simply outline both sides of the issue -- broadband providers need to manage data usage and the customer experience; broadband providers are restricting access to online viewing that might substitute for their traditional programming -- and call it one of the key issues related to the future of video.

They relate the proposed Verizon-SpectrumCo sale to the topic by arguing for FiOS as a new competitive presence in the video marketplace, one that critics of the deal say could be stifled by joint marketing agreements under which the cable companies will market Verizon Wireless service and the telco will market their video service and other offerings.

"Consumer groups and competitors have raised concerns that these agreements will diminish the incentives for competition between Verizon and the cable companies, creating numerous potential harms including higher cable prices for consumers," they say.