House Republican wants new retrans rules this year

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Wednesday urging the agency to issue new rules ahead of this year's retransmission negotiations.

Update: A previous version of this article incorrectly attributed the letter to Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.)

"Since the proposed rules were released, I have heard from a number of my state's smaller pay-TV providers about how the video marketplace has fundamentally changed since the introduction of the retransmission consent framework nearly two decades ago," King said.

"As a result of these changes," King continues, "I've been told negotiations breakdown more frequently, consumers lose broadcast signals more often, and retransmission consent fees rise more quickly, resulting in significant inconvenience to consumers and higher pay-TV bills."

King notes more than a thousand carriage agreements are set to expire by the end of 2011 and said Pay-TV providers are looking for certainty in the form of final rules that will govern this year's negotiations between themselves and broadcasters.

Monday was the deadline for comment on the FCC's proposed rules, which would clarify the definition of good-faith negotiations. The commission has the authority to ensure both parties are negotiating in good faith.

"In light of these problems, I appreciate the FCC's efforts to consider this issue and evaluate the potential need for rule changes," King said.

"Examining whether or not the retransmission consent rules have failed to keep up with significant changes in the video marketplace since 1992 is appropriate, timely, and important."

This post was updated at 3:32 p.m.

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