Buying Group Language Changes not Needed To Include NCTC, NBCU Says
Groups like the National Cable Television Cooperative qualify as buying groups without any change in the rules governing what buying groups are, and any clarifications or amendments to that language "must preserve the bedrock principle" that even if multiple members…
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of the group default, the programming provider's payments for programming so far delivered is guaranteed, NBCUniversal said in an FCC ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 12-68. NBCUniversal said that any curtailing of the requirement that a buying group keep cash or liquid reserves sufficient to cover a one-month cost of programming purchases could add to the risk that the buying group wouldn't be able to ensure full payment. The American Cable Association has been pushing for a redefinition to cover NCTC (see 1507020018), though NBCUniversal said there "is less reason than ever" to expand program access rules. The reasons, NBCUniversal said, include a steep decline in vertically integrated programming, most ACA members aren't affected by any theoretical incentive by cable-affiliated programmers to impede access to programming, there is no evidence small multichannel video programming distributors have more difficulty getting cable-affiliated programming than nonaffiliated programming, and the prices paid for programming by large and small MVPDs are narrowing. The filing encapsulated a meeting between Margaret Tobey, NBCUniversal vice president-regulatory affairs, and Media Bureau staff.