[BC] HDTV

[Alan Kline]

------ At 02:17 PM 2/8/2006 -0600, The Most Honourable Mark W Earle wrote: -------

>Oh, I do think the broadcaster should be compensated. I'm a lot less sure
>of "how much", but something. Because yes, the cable operator is
>obtaining a benefit and more able to sell their services, based on having
>the local station. 

Fair enough.  I absolutely agree that the cable (or satellite) operator is
getting something of value.  That's why the occasional squabbles between
stations and cable operators make the newspaper--the broadcaster's signal
is something the customers want.  And it's why the satellite companies' 
business started to skyrocket (pun intended) when they were able to add
local signals to their products.

>I'd like to know what law (or FCC reg) this violates - curiosity, is all.
>I "know" it's probably illegal, but don't know what area of law covers
>this. 

If nothing else, I doubt that T-W had retrans consent from the out-of-
market station, which isn't surprising, since the out-of-market station
has no legal right to grant retrans to a cable system that's outside of
their ADI.  It's illegal for a cable system to retransmit a broadcast signal
without either a retrans agreement or a must-carry election from the
station.

ak