The Federal Communications Commission released their tentative agenda last week for the upcoming June open meeting. The three items tentatively planned for the agenda are the removal of obsolete cable television rate rules, the streamlining of engineering reviews for broadband data collection, and modernizing TTY rules for individuals with hearing and speech disabilities.
The Report and Order for streamlining the engineering review for broadband data collection would eliminate the professional engineer certification requirement for the biannual Broadband Data Collection filings and would instead allow the filings to be certified by a qualified engineer who has relevant minimum experience and education.
The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to delete a provision in its rules that requires telecommunications relay services providers to support the obsolete ASCII transmission format. This rulemaking change will modernize TTY rules for individuals with hearing and speech disabilities.
The most exciting item is the removal of obsolete and unworkable cable television rate rules, making good on Chairman Carr’s promise to move quickly on deregulatory reforms after soliciting Delete, Delete, Delete comments.
 The FCC will consider a Report and Order on these rate regulations at the open meeting this month. According to the summary supplied by the agency:
The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would promote competition and economic growth by simplifying and streamlining burdensome cable rate regulations, eliminating unnecessary forms and rules, deregulating certain cable equipment and small cable systems, limiting regulation to residential subscribers, and otherwise reducing regulatory burdens.
Rate regulation is telecom-speak for price controls. As we have long known and as has been proven since time immemorial, price controls create shortages.
These price control rate rules are outdated and unworkable. Updated regulatory practices are urgently needed. Adopting this reform will promote competition and economic growth and streamline the agency.
Digital Liberty submitted comments to the FCC’s Delete, Delete, Delete inquiry on April 11th as the agency moved to streamline practices and pare down unnecessary regulation. These comments primarily addressed ownership limits, Cable Act rules, marketing regulations, and reporting requirements, making the case that:
The Commission should eliminate the basic tier requirement and all associated requirements. This should include the requirement that consumers purchase a basic tier to obtain other programming. Customers should be allowed to purchase what they please and cable companies should be able to sell what they want.
The open commission meeting for this month is scheduled for June 26th. It is imperative that the FCC reassess cable rate rules to promote greater efficiency within the agency and increased competition in the cable market.
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Author: Nathan Seibert
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