Implementation of Section 621(a)(1) of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 as Amended by the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992

Resumo

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on how to implement section 621(a)(1) of the Communications Act. Because several potential competitors seeking to enter the multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) marketplace have alleged that in many areas the current operation of the local franchising process serves as a barrier to entry, the Commission solicits comment on section 621(a)(1)'s directive that local franchising authorities (LFAs) not unreasonably refuse to award competitive franchises, and whether the franchising process unreasonably impedes the achievement of the interrelated federal goals of enhanced cable competition and accelerated broadband deployment and, if so, how the Commission should act to address that problem.