The FCC this week issued a Notice of Inquiry for its annual Video Competition Report.
The Oct. 12 notice seeks comment and information to assist the FCC with its "Annual Assessment of the Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming," which is required by Congress. Information gained from the NOI will help the commission evaluate the status of competition in the video marketplace, changes in the market since the 2005 Video Competition Report, prospects for new entrants within the market, as well as factors that may have impeded or facilitated competition and the effect these factors are having on consumer access to video programming.
The notice requests comment and information on video program distributors, large home satellite dish providers, broadband service providers, private cable operators, open video systems, wireless cable systems which use broadband radio and educational broadband services frequencies, local exchange carrier systems, utility-operated system, commercial radio services, broadcast television stations, as well as other wireless providers.
The FCC is also soliciting information on video programming distributed via the Internet and via IP networks, as well as that distributed through home video rental and sales organizations.
"We all want the market for video programming to be competitive," said Commissioner Michael J. Copps. "When they have more options, consumers reap big rewards, better services, higher technology and, very importantly, lower prices."
The notice also requests information on technical issues, developments in foreign markets, and data that will allow the FCC to evaluate horizontal concentration within the video marketplace and vertical integration between programming distributors and programming services.
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