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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT: 
 June  13,  2002  Margo  Davenport  (202)  418-  2949 
 FCC  ISSUES  INQUIRY  FOR  ITS  NINTH  REPORT  TO  CONGRESS  ON  VIDEO  COMPETITION 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  Today,  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  initiated  its  ninth  annual  inquiry,  as  required  by  Congress,  into  the  status  of  competition  in  the  market  for  the 
 delivery  of  video  programming. 
 Today’s  Notice  of  Inquiry  ("  NOI")  is  designed  to  assist  the  FCC  in  gathering  the  information,  data,  and  comments  for  the  2002  Competition  Report.  In  the  2002  Competition  Report,  the  FCC 
 expects  to  report  on  changes  in  the  competitive  environment  over  the  last  year.  The  NOI  seeks  information  that  will  allow  the  FCC  to  define  the  economic  market  for  video  programming,  to 
 evaluate  the  status  of  competition  in  the  video  marketplace,  and  to  evaluate  prospects  for  new  entrants  to  that  market.  The  NOI  solicits  information  regarding  the  extent  to  which  consumers  have  choices 
 among  video  programming  distributors  and  delivery  technologies.  In  addition,  the  NOI  asks  for  information  that  will  allow  it  to  compare  video  programming  offerings,  prices  for  programming 
 services  and  associated  equipment,  and  any  other  services  offered  by  providers  of  video  programming  services  such  as  programming  in  high  definition  format. 


 As  in  previous  reports,  the  FCC  seeks  information  regarding  each  of  the  video  programming  distributors,  including  the  number  of  homes  passed,  the  number  of  subscribers,  the  services  offered, 
 the  cost  for  various  service  options,  financial  information  on  each  industry,  ownership  information,  and  data  on  investments  in  plant  and  facility  upgrades.  The  FCC  also  requests  comment  on  industry 
 and  market  structure  and  programming  and  technical  issues. 
 Additionally,  the  FCC  seeks  information  on  the  provision  of  high-  speed  Internet  access  services,  telephony,  video-  on-  demand,  high  definition  television,  and  interactive  television  and  on 
 new  ways  of  offering  service  (e.  g.,  personal  video  recorders,  streaming  video).  The  FCC  also  seeks  information  on  the  extent  to  which  programming  distributors,  both  broadcast  and  non-  broadcast 
 programming  services,  are  involved  in  the  production  of  the  programming  they  provide.  In  addition,  the  FCC  seeks  information  regarding  video  programming  providers’  experiences  offering  closed 
 captioning  and  video  description. 
 Action  by  the  Commission  on  June  13,  2002,  by  Notice  of  Inquiry  (FCC  02-  178).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps  and  Martin. 


 CS  Docket  No.  02-  145  -FCC- 
 Media  Bureau  contacts:  Anne  Levine  and  Marcia  Glauberman  (202)  418-  2330 
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