Federal Communications Commission FCC 18-47 STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI Re: Channel Lineup Requirements – Sections 76.1705 and 76.1700(a)(4), MB Docket No. 18-92; Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative, MB Docket No. 17-105 In an era of widespread Internet access, artificial intelligence, driverless cars, and too many technological marvels to mention, it is bizarre that the FCC still requires every cable operator to maintain at its local office a current listing of its cable television channels. The FCC’s channel-lineup rules might have made sense back when they were adopted in 1972. I say “might” because the Commission didn’t actually explain back then why it thought that these regulations were necessary. As the Notice surmises, perhaps the intent was to help the agency verify compliance with certain technical performance standards that no longer exist. Or perhaps it thought that viewers might well visit a cable operator’s local office to track down Meathead from All in the Family (one of the most-watched television programs in America at the time). 1 But as with other initiatives in our Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative, this matter is now simple. Consumers can and do easily access channel lineups in ways not contemplated when the rules were adopted. Cable operators’ websites, on-screen electronic program guides, paper guides, the Commission-hosted online public inspection file, and plain old Internet searches supply the information consumers want without them even having to get up from the couch. And the Commission itself has even more ways of obtaining this information. Given these choices, Archie Bunker might very well deem a meathead anyone who actually visited a cable operator’s local office to view channel lineup information. That, among other reasons, explains why we’re proposing to eliminate this rule. I’d like to thank the dedicated staff who worked on this Notice, including Steve Broeckaert, Michelle Carey, Martha Heller, Kim Matthews, and Holly Saurer from the Media Bureau, and Susan Aaron and Dave Konczal from the Office of General Counsel. 1 TV Ratings: 1972-1973, available at http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1972.htm.