[IP] Court Upholds FCC Rule on Video Service - washingtonpost.com

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062703343.html?hpid=sec-tech

Court Upholds FCC Rule on Video Service
Agency Made It Easier for Phone Firms to Compete With Cable Operators
	

By Cecilia Kang
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 28, 2008; Page D03

An appeals court yesterday rebuffed an attempt by cable providers to  
challenge a rule that makes it easier for phone companies and other  
potential competitors to move in on their turf.

In the decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upheld  
a rule made last year by the Federal Communications Commission that  
imposes stricter guidelines on how municipal and state governments may  
evaluate new video service providers.

The court dismissed a petition by cable operators and local  
governments to overturn the FCC's 90-day time limit on local  
regulators to approve applications by new entrants in cable and other  
pay television services. The decision also backs the FCC's rule that  
city and state regulators can't demand favors in exchange for their  
approval.

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