-Caveat Lector- >From http://www.c-span.org/about/mustcarry.htm C-SPAN Networks in Jeopardy? Letter | Congress | FCC | Sample Channel Lineup | Communicate Recent Testimony | Learn More | Archive | In the News FCC Rules Could Force C-SPAN & C-SPAN2 Off Your Cable System The Federal Communications Commission is now in the process of writing rules that could give every local broadcast station a second channel on your cable system. If that happens, cable operators would be forced to eliminate many cable programming services, including C-SPAN and C-SPAN2, in order to make room for each broadcast station's extra channel. Broadcasters would be given the extra cable channel as part of the plan for the nation's transition from current television technology to the new "digital" television, which includes the promise of the much talked about High Definition Television, or HDTV. C-SPAN believes the proposal for a second channel is both unnecessary and unconstitutional. A so-called "digital must carry" rule from the FCC would violate the First Amendment because it would prevent the C-SPAN Networks from being able to "speak" to literally millions of American households as one or the other, or even both of the networks would be dropped from your cable system under such a rule. The C-SPAN Networks have vigorously opposed the recently proposed second channel for broadcasters, and in fact, have opposed all forms of such "must carry" rules for several years. Most recently, C-SPAN's CEO Briam Lamb testified to a Senate committe in opposition to the second channel proposal for broadcasters. C-SPAN CEO Testifies Against `Digital Must Carry' On Wednesday, July 8th C-SPAN's chief executive Brian Lamb testified before the Senate Commerce Committee as part of a panel of witnesses to discuss the nation's transition from analog to digital television. Mr. Lamb's written testimony, reproduced below, focused on the proposal that cable operators be forced to give each local broadcaster a second channel on the cable system. Lamb criticized this "digital must carry" rule as unfair, unnecessary and unconstitutional. � Read Mr. Lamb's Written Testimony � Watch or Listen to Mr. Lamb's testimony. � Watch or Listen to the entire hearing. � Get the RealPlayer. C-SPAN's Counsel Claims "Digital Must Carry" Unnecessary and Unconstitutional On Friday, July 24th C-SPAN's Corporate Vice President and General Counsel Bruce Collins participated in a panel discussion in Washington on digital television sponsored by Georgetown University. In his opening remarks Mr. Collins argued that the transition to digital television would be accomplished most effectively through the free market, and that a "digital must carry" rule would be unnecessary and unconstitutional. � Watch or listen to Mr. Collins' remarks � Watch or listen to the entire panel discussion Letter to Capitol Hill Warns of Dangers to C-SPAN On May 22, C-SPAN told Congress that an impending FCC policy change could result in the loss of C-SPAN and C-SPAN 2 in millions of households. The message was in a letter from C-SPAN Chairman and CEO Brian Lamb to the congressional leadership and to the two communications committees. In the letter he warned that if the FCC issues a rule requiring cable operators to carry the new digital signals soon to be launched by local broadcasters, C-SPAN and C-SPAN 2 will be seriously harmed. The issue is relevant now because the FCC is in the process of writing a rule that will describe exactly how cable operators will have to treat these new digital channels. In the meantime, the first such digital channels are expected to be launched in some big markets in November, with others coming in May of next year. Read C-SPAN's letter to Members of Congress and the response of the National Association of Broadcasters. Learn More and How to get Involved Contact Members of Congress. Contact the FCC. The Cable Operator's Perspective. Voice Your Opinion Watch or Listen to a Freedom Forum Panel on Digital Television and the Future of TV News. Visit Citizens for C-SPAN an independent group concerned about access to the C-SPAN Networks. Archive: C-SPAN's Record on the 'Must Carry' Rule." C-SPAN has opposed the so-called 'must carry' rule in all its forms since it was proposed as a part of the 1992 Cable Act. Read C-SPAN's statements on 'must carry' since 1991. Reply Comments, December 22, 1998: Filed with the FCC Summary of Position, June 1998: The key points of C-SPAN's position on `digital must carry' is summarized in this one-page document. Comments to the FCC, July 1996: C-SPAN argues that the 'must carry' rule should not be applied to digital broadcast services because it violates C-SPAN's First Amendment rights and because a recent Supreme Court case supports the idea that the rule should not be applied automatically to new technologies. Affidavit in Lawsuit, February 1993: C-SPAN was a plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that challenged the constitutionality of the 'must carry' rule. As part of that lawsuit, C-SPAN's Lisa Kerr filed an affidavit citing several examples of how the rule led to carriage of C-SPAN and C-SPAN 2 being eliminated or reduced Written Testimony of Brian Lamb, June 1991: C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb testified before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications & Finance as the 1992 Cable Act was being written. In his testimony he warned Congress that if the 'must carry' rule became law, C-SPAN would become a "second class" citizen and that the public would be the losers. Watch or Listen to Lamb's Actual Testimony, June 1991: C-SPAN Chairman Brian Lamb appeared on a panel of witnesses with other television industry executives before the House subcommittee (see above item) to discuss many aspects of the pending communications law, including the must carry rule. In this 6 minute excerpt from the hearing Lamb warns that the rule will hurt the CSPAN Networks, yet urges Congress not to treat CSPAN differently or to grant it any special favor. Related Site: FCC Digital TV Site In the News: Multichannel News -- 11/9/98 Lamb Rips Must-Carry to Panel CableFAX Daily -- 11/9/98 Oh No You Don�t: NCTA, C-SPAN Set Gore Straight on Digital Must Carry Communications Daily -- 11/9/98 Gore Commission Eyes Mostly Voluntary Obligations Washington Times -- 7/9/98 HDTV not set for fall premiere Cableworld -- 7/13/98 Digital Puzzle Frustrates Feds MultiChannel News -- 7/13/98 Digital-Carriage Dance Daily Variety -- 7/9/98 Digital debate gets static in Senate hearing. Scientific American May, 1998 Digital Television: Here at Last MultiChannel News -- 6/8/98 Burns Opposed to Digital Must Carry USA Today -- 6/2/98 C-SPAN chief wary of digital TV Daily Variety -- 6/1/98 C-SPAN Chief Pans Digital Must Carry Communications Daily -- 6/1/98 NAB Response to C-SPAN CableFax Daily 6/1/98 NAB Picks On C-SPAN Hollywood Reporter 6/1/98 -- C-SPAN 'same tired claim' has Fritts annoyed Hollywood Reporter 5/29/98 -- C-SPAN Can't Bear Must Carry MultiChannel News -- 5/29/98 NAB Fires Back at C-SPAN's Lamb MultiChannel News Lamb Issues Digital Must-Carry Alert Broadcasting and Cable C-SPAN in jeopardy? Communications Daily 5/28/98 Clock Ticking CableFax Daily 5/28/98 The Lamb Roars ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! 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