Feb 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) invites public comments to OMB by March 28, 2024 regarding the Biennial Survey of Cable Industry Prices, FCC Form 333.
The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 (“Cable Act”) requires the Commission to publish biennially a report on average rates for basic cable service, cable programming service, and equipment. The report must compare the prices charged by cable operators subject to effective competition and those that are not subject to effective competition. The Biennial Cable Industry Price Survey is intended to collect the data needed to prepare that report. The data from these questions are needed to complete this report.
Section 623(k) of The Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Cable Television Consumer Protection Act of 1992, and RAY BAUM’s Act of 2018, requires the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) to publish biennially a statistical Report on Cable Industry Prices (Report), on the average rates (prices) cable operators (operators) charge for basic service and other programming services including lease of equipment. The statute requires the Commission to compare the changes in prices of operators subject to effective competition to the prices of operators not subject to effective competition, under a statutorily defined standard. The statute also requires the Commission to report on retransmission consent fees which cable operators pay to television broadcast stations.
To meet these Congressional directives, the Commission conducts a biennial Survey of Cable Industry Prices (Survey). FCC Form 333 is the survey instrument (questionnaire) for collecting the information to prepare the Report. To implement the Survey, the Commission releases an Order directing a random sample of cable operators to complete the Form-333. Consistent with requirements of the Act, Form 333 collects data on the basic service, expanded basic service, and the next most subscribed service. To calculate annual changes, Form 333 requests prices, number of channels, and other data for January 1 of the survey year and preceding year.
Cable Industry Prices Reports:
https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/cable-industry-prices-reports
FCC submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202402-3060-004 Click IC List for data collection instruments, View Supporting Statement. Submit comments through this webpage.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-04021
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806
