Burger left a cable-TV signal ruling intact.

Chief Justice Warren E. Burger refused to force cable-television operators to keep carrying all local TV signals on their systems. A federal appeals court ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the Federal Communications Commission’s so-called must-carry rules. The appeals court ruling takes effect today. The National Assn. of Broadcasters, fearing that cable operators will drop their signals, asked Burger to keep the old rule intact pending an appeal to the full court.