WTA Files Comments in Support of Extending the HD Broadcast Signal Carriage Exemption for Small Cable Systems

Yesterday, WTA filed comments in support of American Cable Association’s Petition for Rulemaking seeking a three-year extension of an exemption from the requirement to carry HD broadcast signals in HD for small cable systems currently set to expire in June 2015. In the comments, WTA highlighted the financial constraints that continue to impede upgrades to small cable system that would make carriage of HD broadcast signals possible. Requiring small cable systems to expend substantial resources for system upgrades at this time would force small operators to make the difficult choice of passing those costs onto their customers or ceasing operations. Because the ability to offer video services is recognized as a crucial component for being competitive in the broadband market, not extending the exemption could result in negative impacts on broadband deployment and adoption. WTA also urged the Commission to retain the current subscriber threshold of 2,500 customers in order for a small cable system to remain eligible for the exemption.