ATVA Applauds FCC Review of Retrans Rules Impact on Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. August 3, 2011 – ATVA applauds the FCC for including retransmission consent rules in its annual review of the impact of regulations on small businesses. Government mandated rules that give broadcasters the upper hand in retransmission consent negotiations have a disproportionate impact on small and medium sized cable operators. The outdated retrans rules also fail the test of time that the FCC will consider in the review process. There has been great technological change in how consumers can view “free” over the air programming and many more choices in pay TV providers since the retrans rules were adopted nearly 20 years ago.