Commissioner Simington Calls for Ownership Deregulation and Treating Streaming Services Like Cable Operators

FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington and his new Chief of Staff, Gavin Wax, have published another article in the Daily Caller focusing on broadcast regulations.  The article focuses on relaxing the broadcast ownership rules and competition from streaming services.

With respect to the broadcast ownership rules, Commissioner Simington stated:

“To correct this, the FCC should take two bold steps. First, it must modernize its ownership rules to allow traditional broadcasters greater flexibility to consolidate and compete. This does not mean unchecked mergers, but rather smart, targeted reforms that reflect economic realities. Local stations need the ability to scale, pool capital, and share infrastructure, particularly in rural or low-population markets where the cost of operations is high and advertising revenue is shrinking.”

With respect to streaming services, Commissioner Simington proposed to treat these services like regulated cable services.

“Second, the FCC must reexamine how it classifies and regulates streaming platforms. In 2014, former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler proposed reclassifying streaming platforms as “MVPDs” (multichannel video programming distributors), placing them on equal regulatory footing with cable and satellite operators. Though the proposal failed, it was the right idea and deserves a second look.

To regulate fairly, the FCC must adopt a technology-neutral approach. If a service provides multiple linear streams of video programming (as do, for example, cable companies), then it should be treated like a cable company. That includes being subject to ownership limits, content obligations, and transparency rules.”

We support the proposed changes.  Local broadcast stations and their competitors must be subject to the same rules.  We are the primary sources of local news and information in communities throughout New York.  If we are to continue providing these life-saving services, we must be treated to the same regulatory regime as our competitors.

You can see the article in the Daily Caller here.