*Pages 1--1 from  Microsoft Word - 50983.doc*
 NEWS  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).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  August  12,  2005  Rebecca  Fisher  (202)  418-  2359 
 FCC  ISSUES  INQUIRY  FOR  ANNUAL  REPORT  TO  CONGRESS  ON  VIDEO  COMPETITION 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  today  released  a  Notice  of  Inquiry  for  its  Annual  Assessment  of  the  Status  of  Competition  in  the  Market  for  the  Delivery  of  Video 
 Programming,  as  required  by  Congress. 
 The  Notice  of  Inquiry,  which  seeks  comment  and  information  on  competition  in  the  video  programming  market,  is  designed  to  assist  the  FCC  with  its  annual  Competition  Report.  In  the  2005 
 Competition  Report,  the  FCC  expects  to  report  on  changes  in  the  competitive  environment  over  the  last  year.  The  Notice  seeks  information  that  will  allow  the  FCC  to  evaluate  the  status  of  competition  in  the  video 
 marketplace,  changes  in  the  market  since  the  2004  Competition  Report,  prospects  for  new  entrants  to  that  market,  factors  that  have  facilitated  or  impeded  competition,  and  the  effect  of  competition  on  industry  groups 
 and  most  importantly,  consumers.  The  Commission  expects  to  send  the  2005  Competition  Report  to  Congress  by  the  end  of  the  year. 


 The  Notice  solicits  comments  and  information  on  video  distributors  in  the  market  for  the  delivery  of  video  programming,  including  those  using  both  wireline  and  wireless  technologies.  Video  programming 
 distributors  include  cable  systems,  direct  broadcast  satellite  ("  DBS")  providers,  large  home  satellite  dish  or  C-  Band  dish  ("  C-  Band")  providers,  broadband  service  providers  (“  BSPs”),  private  cable  or  satellite  master 
 antenna  television  ("  PCO")  systems,  open  video  systems  ("  OVS"),  multichannel  multipoint  distribution  services  or  wireless  cable  systems  ("  wireless  cable"),  local  exchange  carrier  (“  LEC”)  systems,  utility-operated 
 systems,  and  over-  the-  air  broadcast  television  stations. 
 The  FCC  seeks  information  on  video  programming  distributed  on  videocassettes  and  DVDs  through  retail  distribution  outlets,  and  on  video  programming  distributed  over  the  Internet  and  via  Internet  Protocol 
 (IP)  networks.  The  Notice  also  requests  information  that  will  allow  the  FCC  to  evaluate  horizontal  concentration  in  the  video  marketplace,  vertical  integration  between  programming  distributors  and 
 programming  services,  and  other  issues  relating  to  the  programming  available  to  consumers.  The  Notice  further  asks  for  information  on  technical  issues,  including  equipment  and  emerging  services.  Finally  the 
 Notice  seeks  comments  regarding  developments  in  foreign  markets,  as  they  may  contribute  to  the  FCC’s  understanding  of  domestic  markets. 


 Action  by  the  Commission  August  9,  2005  by  Notice  of  Inquiry  (FCC  05-  155).  Chairman  Martin,  Commissioners  Copps,  Abernathy,  and  Adelstein.  Separate  statements  issued  by  Commissioner  Copps  and  Adelstein. 
 MB  Docket  No.  05-  255  -FCC- 
 Media  Bureau  contacts:  Timothy  May  and  Marcia  Glauberman  (202)  418-  2330. 
1