ACA's Polka Still Eyeing Local Choice for 2015
The Senate may take the lead on the video overhaul component of a Communications Act overhaul, House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., said Wednesday at the American Cable Association summit. ACA President Matt Polka stressed the importance of Local Choice, a broadcast a la carte proposal that failed last Congress. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., was a backer and “remains interested in moving forward,” Polka said in a conversation with Walden. “[Local Choice] puts consumers in control compared to current retrans laws, which gives them no choice at all.”
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Walden declined to endorse Local Choice but acknowledged it would be part of the broader debate. Senate Commerce is “going to start on the video piece in the Senate,” Walden said, considering Thune’s skills. “We’re going to take the lead on a few issues.” He called an overhaul an “enormous undertaking” and said, “We’ve got USF issues, we’ve got Title I issues in terms of the agency itself.” Walden said Local Choice would be discussed in a broader overhaul and Thune is “going to start that process in the Senate.”
Broadcasters vehemently opposed Local Choice last year. “There’s people who don’t share your opinion who also darken our doorstep,” Walden told Polka. Walden emphasized the importance of protecting content creators and the First Amendment. “I want to be very measured about it, I want to be very thoughtful about it,” Walden said. Thune has invoked Local Choice and his ongoing interest this year.
House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, and Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. also outlined their priorities. They co-chair a working group, formed in April of 2013, devoted to rural telecom issues. These working group lawmakers “have the same rural challenges,” whether the members are Republican or Democrat, Welch said, identifying a “unity of interest.” That’s helped in identifying what the issues are and provided time for lawmakers to work together, he said.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler had met with the group in a setting that was not “contentious,” which was helpful, Welch said. The working group “hasn’t really set the schedule” yet but will focus on rural impact, Latta said. The group will develop goals needed for any Communications Act overhaul, Welch said. Welch emphasized a need to “get past the fear” over Communications Act Title II reclassification to debate “whatever the ultimate outcome is” and to ensure it works for rural America. “We never get past the fear of the worst case scenario.” They emphasized the challenges of the calendar facing lawmakers and the limitations of what Congress ultimately is able to consider. Latta said one of his big concerns is not to have regulations on the books that don’t keep pace with technology as part of the Communications Act overhaul process. “Bottom line, how is it going to affect the consumer in rural areas? How is it going to affect competition?” Welch asked. “Telecom is essential -- it’s like electricity.”
“You’ve got the template here for something good,” Polka told them of a possible Senate version of the working group.
“If they don’t form their own rural working group, we could have them come over,” Latta said, “and sit with us.” Lawmakers in both chambers face the same challenges regarding USF and broadband buildout, he said.
Polka also brought up the issue of blocking of online content in discussions with Walden and with Latta and Welch. “We see it as something’s going to only continue,” Polka said. “You guys are getting hammered on that” due to lack of “bargaining power,” Welch told him. Polka said he’s happy to bring forth ACA members to discuss what they deal with on that front. He also applauded Latta for successfully advancing a provision last Congress to repeal the set-top box integration ban.