Just a reminder that PFF is hosting a panel discussion on “Cable, Broadcast & the First Amendment: Will the Supreme Court End Must-Carry?” this Tuesday (April 27th) from 10:00-11:45 a.m at Hogan & Hartson LLP (555 13th Street NW, Washington, DC). To hold a seat, please RSVP for the event here.
The event features an all-star cast representing all sides (cable, broadcast and programming) of the fight over the FCC’s must-carry rules, which require cable television systems to dedicate some of their channels to local broadcast television stations. The Supreme Court narrowly upheld these “must-carry” rules in the mid-1990s. But last year’s DC Circuit decision striking down the FCC’s 30% cap on cable ownership lead Cablevision to challenge the must-carry rules. The Supreme Court will soon announce whether it will review the Second Circuit’s decision last June upholding the rules. Speakers at our event include:
- Dan Brenner, Partner, Hogan & Hartson LLP; former director of regulatory and legal affairs at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA)
- Matt Brill, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP; counsel for Discovery Communications, amicus in Cablevision case; former Senior Legal Advisor to FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy
- Jack Goodman, Counsel, WilmerHale; former general counsel of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
- Howard Symons, Member, Mintz Levin; counsel for Cablevision; former Senior Counsel to House Subcommittee on Telecommunications
Berin Szoka and I will co-moderate the session. Hope to see you Tuesday. Register for the event here.
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