FCC boss opposes broadcasters on digital multicast

[FCC] Chairman Michael Powell [who resigned today --Dennis] has proposed rejecting a request that cable companies be required to carry all the digital signals offered by a broadcast television station, sources close to the matter said on Wednesday. ¶ Current law permits a television broadcaster to have its primary signal carried on cable, but with the advent of digital signals broadcasters can now offer multiple channels, known as multicasting. Some had requested that cable be required to carry those additional streams. ¶ In 2001, the FCC ruled that cable had to carry the digital television signal but it only had to carry one video stream of the broadcaster's choosing. Paxson Communications ... and others petitioned the agency to reconsider. ¶ Powell has circulated a proposal that would uphold that decision and has scheduled to complete the voting at the FCC's next open meeting, slated for Feb. 10, two sources said, declining further identification. ... Link: Reuters via Yahoo!Finance.