FCC Video Competition Report Gives Online Services Their Due

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Background: Today, the FCC released its Fourteenth Report on the Status of Competition in the Video Programming Market.  This report is linked here.

The following statement may be attributed to John Bergmayer, Senior Staff Attorney at Public Knowledge.

"This thorough report gives online video its due. It recognizes that while online video is not yet a complete substitute for traditional pay TV for most viewers, it's a category that is growing in importance.

"With respect to online video the report contains many important findings. For instance, it states that some ISPs have the 'ability and incentive to degrade the broadband service available to unaffiliated' online video providers, and it notes that 'vertical integration or exclusivity arrangements between content producers/owners and cable networks, broadcast networks, or MVPDs can make it difficult for unaffiliated [online video providers] to obtain content rights.'

"Although this report is light on policy recommendations, it will be a useful resource for the Commission as it considers important issues like whether online systems can operate as MVPDs, and whether ISPs are using data caps to discriminate against online video."