McSlarrow Briefs Stevens on Cable’s Efforts Against Indecency
SAN FRANCISCO -- NCTA Pres. Kyle McSlarrow had a “positive” meeting with Sen. Stevens (R-Ala.) Sun. at the start of NCTA’s annual convention here, as they sorted through cable’s options for curtailing indecency, McSlarrow told reporters. NCTA staff recently showed Stevens’ staff how the latest parental controls technology works. McSlarrow said he thought the talks, which included a group of industry CEOs, made headway with Stevens. “He [Stevens] wants to learn,” McSlarrow said. “At the same time, he said, ‘We need to do more. Show me more.'”
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The low-key meeting diverges from Stevens’ tone of a month ago, when McSlarrow first took office. At that time, the Senator announced plans to confront cable over indecency. Some say his position may be weak because other Senators fear any legislation would fail First Amendment tests. Others say just because Congress isn’t rallying to regulate cable for indecency doesn’t mean members won’t tackle the topic or vote for a bill if it materializes. “Indecency is a priority this year,” said Christine Kurth, deputy majority staff dir., Senate Commerce Committee, speaking at a panel on Capitol Hill and technology issues.
Cable’s focus now is on explaining how parental controls work and making sure subscribers know the technology is available, McSlarrow and other cable industry executives said. “The key for cable to fending off legislation is publicizing parental controls,” said cable analyst Paul Gallant. That may not be enough, said congressional staffers on a panel about technology. “There is a lot of concern that the technology is not effective, so I don’t know if that is going to be the answer,” said James Assey, senior minority counsel to the Senate Commerce Committee.
“What would be useful is to promote the V-chip and blocking technologies in plain language,” said Colin Crowell, aide to Rep. Markey (D-Mass.). “If cable promoted this the same way as a new show” people would see that it’s out there and how to use it, he said. “Cable has an opportunity to help itself,” he said.
As to DTV transition, panelists said members have been too busy grappling with the issue’s complexity to set a date. This was illustrated at a recent briefing when members posed several questions about their own TVs and how they would be affected by the transition, said Johanna Shelton, minority counsel to the House Commerce Committee. “We can’t underestimate how complicated this will be for members,” she said, adding, “There is growing momentum that there needs to be a hard date.”
McSlarrow hopes for a hands-off regulatory approach to VoIP and IP video services -- an area Congress has been starting to explore. “There is a delicate balance between the realities of the free market and the responsibilities of government,” McSlarrow said in his opening day speech. “That balance is best reflected in an approach to regulation that encourages competition and investment while permitting us to respond quickly and efficiently to consumer needs.”
“I don’t think this is too big for us to take on,” said Howard Waltzman, chief majority counsel, House Energy and Commerce Committee, referring to regulation of IP and IP video services. He said the committee plans a hearing on IP video later this month, and already has held hearings on VoIP. “There are lessons to be learned from the 96 Act in how much we to turn over to the FCC,” Waltzman said: “It’s a delicate balancing act.”