[1] In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates this area of business and public policy pursuant to 47 U.S.C.
[2] Since the 1960s, the Federal Communications Commission had established must-carry rules, which required cable television operators to carry all significantly viewed local stations.
[6] Legislation governing the retransmission of broadcast television content by satellite companies is required to be renewed on a regular basis.
Cable operators typically claim during a carriage dispute that the broadcasters are forcing the viewing public to pay for content that is essentially given away for free to those who use an antenna to receive the station.
In a 2013 op-ed, former FCC commissioner, Robert McDowell, argued:TV stations make more money as more people see their shows, thus creating an incentive to distribute their product as widely as possible.