Media Access Project Warns FCC Against Reliance on Self-Reported Cable Subscriber Data
Posted: Friday May 22, 2009
This week, Media Access Project (MAP) submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission warning the agency that its reliance on privately supplied cable subscriber data falls short of its commitment to promote competition in the video marketplace. On behalf of Consumers Union, MAP argued that the industry’s system to report cable subscriber rates is inaccurate and misleading, and encouraged the Commission to gather its own data to determine nationwide subscriber numbers.
“Commercially available and cable industry self-reported subscriber data are inadequate and unclear for purposes of policymaking by the Commission,” said MAP Vice President Parul P. Desai. “The Commission,” she added, “risks sacrificing diversity and competition in the marketplace, as well as its power to properly monitor the cable industry, if it relies solely on such self-reported information.”
The concerns raised by MAP and Consumers Union are based on longstanding practices of unreliable self-reporting by the cable industry. These practices were highlighted by strong discrepancies found in two studies on nationwide video competition conducted by Kagan Research, Inc. and Warren Communications, Inc. in 2006 and 2007, respectively. While Kagan’s report reported a subscription rate of 58.1%, Warren Communications News reported a subscription rate of 71.4%.
These differences indicate that self-reporting, in itself, is inadequate to determine empirical data on subscriber rates. MAP requests that the Commission mandate full disclosure of subscriber data, including information on both cable and satellite users.
MAP is a non-profit, public interest law firm dedicated to promoting the public’s First Amendment right to access a diverse marketplace of ideas in mass media. For over 37 years, MAP has promoted the public interest before the FCC and the Courts, advocating for open and diverse media that protect the free flow of information, promote universal and equitable access to communications and technology services, and encourage vibrant public discourse on critical issues facing our society.
Read the comments here.
Contact:
Kamilla Kovacs
Development and Communications Manager
Media Access Project
202-454-5685
kkovacs@mediaaccess.org