Request for Extended Deadlines for Totality of Circumstances NPRM Sees Growing Criticism
Broadcasters seeking extended deadlines in the "totality of circumstances" test rulemaking are facing a bigger fight, with Incompas, ITTA, NTCA and Public Knowledge now resisting the motion. The Incompas et al. opposition posted Wednesday in docket 15-216 joins similar pushback…
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posted earlier this week from the American Television Alliance (see 1510260025). While broadcasters have said they need more time while they deal with spectrum auction issues, "both Congress and the Commission have provided sufficient notice of this proceeding and consumers have waited long enough for a resolution to address the increasing number of disputes ... over retransmission consent agreements," the groups said. Such a delay "would maintain the status quo [for multichannel video programming distributors] who have had to deal with exorbitant price increases for both broadcast and non-broadcast programming, as well as for their customers who have seen these increases reflected in their monthly billing statements," Incompas et al. said. Since the FCC adopted the NPRM in September and a summary was published Oct. 2 in the Federal Register, they said, "the notice ... has been more than sufficient for parties to gather information and prepare comments and an additional 60-day delay cannot be justified."