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NRTC Pushes Local TV Issues
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative told the Federal Communications Commission it's happy with the commitment News Corp. and DirecTV made concerning delivery of local TV to all 210 DMAs if the media giant's takeover of the satellite TV service wins regulatory approval.
The all-DMAs/locals promise - which could happen as early as 2006 and no later than 2008 if the News Corp./DirecTV deal wins approval - is a positive step that warrants further review, NRTC told the FCC last week.
Still, "The difference between 2006 and 2008 remains significant. Rural Americans already have waited too long to receive access to local signals that consumers in more populated areas take for granted," the cooperative told the FCC in reply comments on cable/satellite competition.
The NRTC echoed its earlier call for satellite TV to deliver locals to all corners of the nation. "To promote competition to cable and to bring local service to areas that otherwise would not receive it, nationwide DBS carriers should provide local service to all 210 DMAs as soon as possible," the cooperative said. "NRTC stands ready to work with DirecTV and others toward this goal."
NRTC Pushes Local TV Issues
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative told the Federal Communications Commission it's happy with the commitment News Corp. and DirecTV made concerning delivery of local TV to all 210 DMAs if the media giant's takeover of the satellite TV service wins regulatory approval.
The all-DMAs/locals promise - which could happen as early as 2006 and no later than 2008 if the News Corp./DirecTV deal wins approval - is a positive step that warrants further review, NRTC told the FCC last week.
Still, "The difference between 2006 and 2008 remains significant. Rural Americans already have waited too long to receive access to local signals that consumers in more populated areas take for granted," the cooperative told the FCC in reply comments on cable/satellite competition.
The NRTC echoed its earlier call for satellite TV to deliver locals to all corners of the nation. "To promote competition to cable and to bring local service to areas that otherwise would not receive it, nationwide DBS carriers should provide local service to all 210 DMAs as soon as possible," the cooperative said. "NRTC stands ready to work with DirecTV and others toward this goal."
