Media Contact: 
Janice Wise, (202) 418-8165
janice.wise@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC PROPOSES TO UPDATE CABLE SERVICE CHANGE NOTIFICATION RULES AND REDUCE CONSUMER CONFUSION
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WASHINGTON, December 12, 2019—The Federal Communications Commission today proposed to update the Commission’s rules regarding cable service change notification notices. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking pertains to certain written notices that cable operators must provide to subscribers and local franchise authorities (LFAs) and seeks to reduce the potential for consumer confusion in the context of program carriage disputes. 

Cable operators currently must provide notice of all service, rate, and channel lineup changes to subscribers and local franchise authorities 30 days in advance of the change if it is within the operators’ control.  But in today’s video marketplace, retransmission consent and program carriage negotiations are often concluded within days—if not hours—of the expiration of existing agreements.  Therefore, providing 30-days’ advance notice in the context of carriage negotiations poses unique challenges to providers, and inaccurate or premature notices about programming disruptions that never come to pass can cause consumer confusion and lead subscribers to change providers unnecessarily.

Therefore, the Commission invites comment on whether to change its rules to require cable operators to provide subscribers with notice as soon as possible, rather than 30 days in advance, when service changes occur due to retransmission consent or program carriage negotiations that fail within the last 30 days of a contract.  The NPRM also seeks comment on removing redundant rules regarding notifications cable operators must provide to LFAs. 

This action is the 19th proceeding launched by the Media Bureau since the Commission’s Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative was announced in 2017 to eliminate or modify media regulations that are outdated, unnecessary or unduly burdensome.

Action by the Commission December 12, 2019 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 19-132).  Chairman Pai, Commissioners O’Rielly, Carr, Rosenworcel, and Starks approving and issuing separate statements.

MB Docket Nos. 19-347, 17-105, 10-71

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Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / TTY: (888) 835-5322 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 

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. Cir. 1974).