Bill for Federal Controls on Cable TV Rates Likely Must Wait Till Next Year

Senate action on legislation to impose federal controls on rates charged by cable television companies was blocked today and very likely killed for the year.

Sens. Timothy E. Wirth (D-Colo.) and Bob Packwood (R-Ore.) objected when Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell (D-Me.) sought unanimous consent to take up the legislation, already approved in similar form by the House.

Wirth said he would be willing to meet with supporters of the bill to negotiate a compromise, but Sen. Albert Gore Jr. (D-Tenn.) questioned whether opponents really wanted a bill before Congress adjourns in a few weeks.

Gore noted that the bill has been waiting for Senate action since June and that opponents, “waiting until the eleventh hour, made a strategic decision to kill it. I hope I am in error.”

The bill would authorize the Federal Communications Commission to make sure that reasonable rates exist for basic service and equipment when cable systems are not subject to competition.

The measure also would authorize the FCC to make sure that rates for non-basic services--those offered on a per-channel or per-program basis--are not too high, if there are complaints.

State and local governments that give out cable franchises would be able to retain jurisdiction over basic cable rates if they followed the FCC procedures and standards.