Viewability Rule Out

The FCC has opted to drop the viewability rule, which means, as John Eggerton describes, "cable operators will no longer have to deliver dual analog and digital feeds of must-carry TV station signals to satisfy the FCC requirement that they be viewable to their subscribers. Instead, the FCC says that the no-cost and low-cost converter boxes cable operators offer will satisfy the still-important obligation to make must-carry stations accessible to viewers." This is a setback for broadcasters, says Kim McAvoy.