Civil rights and consumer groups urged FCC to approve bid by Broa...
Civil rights and consumer groups urged FCC to approve bid by Broadwave USA to provide pay-TV and high-speed Internet access service using “Northpoint technology” that would share satellite providers’ spectrum. In petition filed late Wed., Center for Media Education,…
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Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Media Access Project and United Latin American Citizens asked Commission to approve Broadwave’s application because startup would bring more competition to cable. Saying that 80% of participants in Broadwave’s 69 local affiliates were women and minorities, groups said company would “introduce tremendous diversity into a marketplace that has been homogenized through media consolidation.” Finally, they said, they backed Broadwave’s application because they said company would make Internet service available “at reasonable price” to people in poorer and underserved areas. Broadwave plans to offer 60-90 TV channels for $20 per month to consumers with satellite dish, plus high-speed data for additional $20 per month. AT&T and EchoStar have filed in opposition to Broadwave’s proposal.