North Carolina Legislators Seek Protections for Cable Consumers

North Carolina Legislators Seek Protections for Cable Consumers

Will Encourage Cable Companies to settle their Dispute with NFL Network

RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Senator David Hoyle and Representative Drew Saunders today stood up for thousands of North Carolina consumers, urging cable companies to return to the negotiating table with the NFL Network and come up with a programming resolution before late-season games are scheduled to air.

Sen. Hoyle and Rep. Saunders said they hoped the Federal Communications Commission would vote later this year to establish a system of arbitration that would settle disputes like the one between independent programmers and the big cable companies who both own channels and distribute them on more favorable terms.

Sen. Hoyle and Rep. Saunders said they would consider holding hearings before the Utility Review Study Committee to hear from both sides of the issue. They hope that the hearings would set the stage for the two parties to reach an agreement. If that did not happen, they said they would recommend legislation in the 2008 Session of the General Assembly that would allow for arbitration and provide a third party dispute resolution concerning cable programming.

The Carolina Panthers are scheduled to play the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, December 22 in a game that may have playoff implications for both teams and is always a much anticipated game for Panther fans. Time Warner cable subscribers outside of Charlotte will not see the game unless the cable companies and NFL Network reach an agreement quickly. This means Panthers fans in Raleigh, Cary, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Wilmington and Gastonia -- among other markets -- despite what they pay for cable service to Time Warner each month -- won't be able to watch what will go down as the highest-rated programming among all cable programs.

"Consumers are the real losers in this dispute," said Senator Hoyle. "We are home to a great NFL team but much of North Carolina will be shut out when they play the Cowboys."

"It is a shame that football fans all across North Carolina may miss out on great football coverage," Rep. Saunders said. "Competition in cable should give consumers the best products at the best price."

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Source: Football 24.7 Carolina

CONTACT: Ballard Everett, +1-919-272-0297, for Football 24.7 Carolina

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