Dave Horvath
20 Nov 2007 11:03
In a recent investigation put on by the Federal Communications Commission, they've found that an old statute set in 1984 which regulated the business model of cable companies in the US has just about reached fruition. This statute claimed that should cable companies which provide more than 36 channels is available to 70% of American households and reach a 70% penetration rate, the FCC would re-evaluate the business model to keep competition among cable companies fair. A new meeting which will take place on November 27th will discuss forcing cable companies to change to a more "a la carte" business model in which subscribers are offered a pay-per-channel lineup as opposed to bundled packages.
This proposal doesn't sit well with religious group, The Faith and Family Broadcasting Coalition. The group claims that this type of business model will "have a devastating effect on religious broadcasters and their mission to share the saving love of Christ to all nations."
"Though its proponents may be well-intentioned, the fact is a la carte would threaten the very existence of religious broadcasting and the myriad of social and public service ministries it supports by reducing its distribution in the marketplace," according to Colby May, of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which represents the Faith & Family Broadcasting Coalition.
May has filed official comments with the FCC over their proposed new business model. May stated "A per-channel charge would dramatically limit, if not kill, the availability of religious-based programming on cable. For 25 years the bundled-channel model of cable distribution has allowed religious programmers to be a dynamic and important part of the cable marketplace, providing the unique Gospel message of hope, joy, and love, which has touched millions of lives over that time. A government mandate to force abandonment of channel-bundling and substituting-in a la carte regime is misguided and threatens that historic distribution."
Source:
PR News Wire