[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        THE ``MUST-CARRY'' REPEAL

                                 ______


                            HON. BILL BAKER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 17, 1995
  Mr. BAKER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
legislation to repeal the must-carry provision of the Cable Act of 1992 
in order to restore consumer choice.
  The must-carry provision is a so-called consumer provision of cable 
regulation. However, it is the consumers who are hurt most by it. Cable 
television consumers are denied the ability to view many stations 
simply because the hands of the cable operators are tied by the must-
carry rule.
  Must-carry states that one-third of each cable operator's channel 
capacity must be reserved for local commercial broadcast stations. 
Local is defined as the area of dominant influence, or the closet 
metropolitan area. In many suburban areas, there is more than one major 
city nearby. In such cases, all stations from the closest city, 
regardless of appeal, must be carried, often at the expense of more 
popular stations from another city.
  This legislation is a straightforward repeal of the must-carry rule. 
It will allow cable operators to listen to the wishes of consumers. The 
American people are sick and tired of Government telling them what to 
do. Repealing the must-carry rule is a step in the right direction.


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