WTA Files Reply Comments Opposing Relaxation of Top Four Prohibition

On May 29th, WTA filed reply comments opposing a relaxation of the Commission’s Duopoly Rule, which prevents a company from owning two broadcast stations among the top 4 in the same market. WTA warned the Media Bureau that broadcast consolidation has played a large part in the ever-increasing rise in retransmission consent prices and further consolidation in the marketplace will only exacerbate the problem. WTA argued that high retransmission consent prices have led to higher bills for consumers and have had a disparate impact on rural communities as many rural local exchange carriers (“RLECs”) that offer video have been forced to exit the video marketplace.