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May 14th, 2013 
Peter Nolan Some think that America is a free-market and that businesses will respond to consumer demands. That is like saying Democracy is citizen-driven and Congress will respond to citizens demands. Stop laughing or crying.
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Senator McCain has moved from Obama bashing to something more friendly. He wants consumers to be able to choose the channels they want to see on cable and satellite television. This requires an act of Congress because? Because television cable and satellite operators are not consumer-driven and are a highly regulated oligopoly.
Some are the old telephone company wolves wrapped in sheeps’ attire. The aim is to drive prices down for consumers, making Senator John McCain a hero once again. However, in the manner of the communications companies, they will simply amortize their costs and margins across whatever regulations allow and consumers will likely not see their bills change in the end. Here are the details from The Hill.
Such legislation is aimed at lifting spirits based upon the illusion of progress.
“THE LEDE: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is scheduled to push for his “a la carte” cable TV bill at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
His bill, the Television Consumer Freedom Act, would pressure cable and satellite TV providers to allow their customers to pick and choose which individual channels they pay for. He argues the legislation, which is opposed by the cable industry, would drive down prices.
The hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Technology and the Internet is intended to be an overview of federal video policy. It will focus on changes in the marketplace, satellite television reauthorization legislation, retransmission consent issues, the upcoming auction of broadcast spectrum licenses to cellphone carriers and consumer issues, according to a committee aide.
The other witnesses will be Michael Powell, the head of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA); former Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), the CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters; Dish Network General Counsel R. Stanton Dodge; and Public Knowledge attorney John Bergmayer.”
Source Article from http://www.examiner.com/article/senator-mccain-becomes-new-cable-guy?cid=rss
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