Martin Proposes Leased Access Rate Cut

Today, Kevin Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, proposed a 75% cut on the rates that cable television companies may charge for leased access to spare channels. Martin’s proposal calls for the current rate of $.40 per subscriber to be cut to $.10 per subscriber in the hopes of promoting competition and bringing more programming from women and minorities into the market.

It remains to be seen whether such a drastic rate cut is merited. The Commission is expected to vote on the proposal later this month.