Commission Takes a la Carte to Task

[Gregg Lengling]

The Federal Communications Commission got its report on a la carte programming options to Congress Thursday, and the document will be more widely distributed by the FCC today, a spokesperson with the agency said.

Other sources described the report as a "middle of the road" approach to program choice for consumers. However, parts of the document suggest that a la carte may not be the best option to keep down cable rates.

A la carte gained traction after Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) attempted to tie program choice to key satellite TV legislation in the House. Cable interests, led by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, fought a la carte at the FCC. But consumer groups pushed program choice as a means to give subscribers more options to purchase the content they want.