The FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on the current state of the video marketplace. The FCC is specifically requesting comment on the obstacles faced by independent programmers seeking multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) carriage and carriage on online platforms and how such obstacles impact consumers. The FCC is also seeking comment on its proposal to prohibit two types of contractual provisions in program carriage agreements between independent programmers and MVPDs: (1) most favored nation provisions; and (2) unreasonable alternative distribution method provisions. Comments are due 30 days after the NPRM is published in the Federal Register, which has yet to occur. Reply comments are due 60 days after that date of publication.
