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 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  ROBERT  M.  MCDOWELL 
 Re:  TCR  Sports  Broadcasting  Holding,  L.  L.  P.,  Complainant  v.  Comcast  Corporation,  Defendant;  Memorandum  Opinion  and  Hearing  Designation  Order,  CSR-  6911-  N 


 Today’s  Order  will  provide  the  parties  in  this  case  with  an  expeditious  path  here  at  the  Commission  for  resolution  of  their  differences.  As  I  have  stated  previously,  speedy 
 resolution  of  carriage  disputes  is  critical,  especially  where  regional  sports  networks  are  concerned.  The  paths  we  have  outlined  in  the  Adelphia  Order  and  in  this  Order  both 
 provide  the  opportunity  to  settle  the  dispute  between  TCR  and  Comcast  well  before  the  next  baseball  season  begins.  The  best  solution  would  be  for  the  parties  to  reach  an  accord 
 on  their  own.  If  they  fail  to  make  a  deal,  however,  the  Commission’s  orders  provide  two  alternative  venues  to  reach  a  final  determination  on  carriage  of  the  Washington  Nationals 
 games.  One  way  or  the  other,  a  decision  will  be  made. 
 I  see  today’s  action  as  a  positive  first  step  towards  reforming  the  procedures  for  enforcement  of  our  program  carriage  rules.  I  applaud  the  Commission’s  commitment  to 
 improving  these  procedures  and  especially  thank  the  Chairman  for  his  leadership  in  bringing  this  Order  before  us. 
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