What's Next with a la Carte?

[Gregg Lengling]

What's new with the a la carte issue on Capitol Hill?

Sources said there may be a House hearing exclusively focused on program choice after the July 4 holiday. Also, the Federal Communications Commission may conduct a symposium on the subject later in the summer, possibly at the end of July.

At the moment, the FCC is taking comments on a report it will write for the House Energy and Commerce Committee on a la carte. The report is due to the committee in November, and the FCC is taking comments on a la carte throughout July.

Meanwhile, the on-again, off-again markup of key satellite TV legislation within the Senate Judiciary Committee is on again, with a markup of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension Act scheduled for today (though things could change concerning the markup hearing). Orrin Hatch, the Utah Republican and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been working on the legislation since the start of the year.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee also is set to markup key satellite TV legislation today.