FCC Releases Small Entity Compliance Guide for Effective Competition
Multichannel video programming distributors have a 15-day window to hand over data on reach and number of subscribers in a franchise area if a franchising authority wanting certification to regulate a cable operator's basic service tier requests it, according to…
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FCC-amended effective competition rules. The agency filed a small-entity compliance guide Wednesday to spell out compliance with the new effective competition regime. Franchising authorities seeking to establish that a local market lacks effective competition request the data from the MVPD if it's not otherwise available, the guide said. Meanwhile, to oppose such franchising authority regulation, a cable operator can file a petition for reconsideration in which it either disagrees with the franchising authority or demonstrates the presence of effective competition through low penetration, municipal provider or LEC effective competition, the guide said. A cable operator filing a petition for reconsideration will automatically stay any imposition of rate regulation pending the results of the recon proceeding, according to the FCC.