Web Firms Denied Cable Access Under Statute

Federal regulators ruled that Internet providers are not granted access to a cable system by a provision of the law meant to ensure diversity in video programming. The Federal Communications Commission denied a petition by Los Angeles-based Internet Ventures Inc. and its subsidiary, Internet On-Ramp Inc., which had sought access to a cable system in Washington state over which to provide its services. The companies cited provisions of a communications law that require cable operators with 36 or more channels to put aside space for commercial use by third parties. The purpose is to ensure that companies not affiliated with the cable operator won’t be discriminated against in getting programming on the systems. In this case, an Internet company used the statute to argue that it should also be able to lease access to deliver high-speed service into the home. The FCC ruled that Internet providers do not fall under the law’s definition of video programming “comparable to . . . a television broadcast station.”