Cablevision 2011 Annual Report Download - page 21

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on the basis of a programming vendor's affiliation with another MVPD, and a proposal to allow the FCC
to require MVPDs that are found to violate the program carriage rules to pay damages to complainants.
On October 12, 2011, Game Show Network ("GSN") filed a program carriage complaint against the
Company, alleging that the Company discriminated against it in the terms and conditions of carriage
based on GSN's lack of affiliation with the Company. The Company believes GSN's claims are without
merit and is defending itself vigorously.
Exclusive Access to Multitenant Buildings. The FCC has prohibited cable operators from entering into or
enforcing agreements with owners of multitenant buildings under which the operator is the only MVPD
with access to the building. The FCC is considering whether to extend these prohibitions to exclusive
marketing and bulk sales arrangements.
Privacy. In the course of providing service, we collect certain information about our subscribers and their
use of our services. Our collection and use of personally identifiable information about our subscribers is
subject to a variety of Federal and state privacy requirements, including those imposed specifically on
cable operators by the Federal Cable Act. The Communications Act sets limits, subject to certain
exceptions, on our disclosure of that information to third parties. As cable operators provide interactive
and other advanced services, additional privacy considerations may arise. Congress, the Federal Trade
Commission, and the U.S. Department of Commerce are all considering whether to adopt regulations that
would govern the collection, use, and disclosure of subscriber information in connection with the delivery
of advertising to consumers that is customized to their interests. These efforts are currently focused on
the privacy implications of online advertising.
Federal Copyright Regulation. We are required to pay copyright royalty fees to receive a statutory
compulsory license to carry broadcast television signals. The U.S. Copyright Office has increased our
royalty fees from time to time and has, at times, recommended to Congress changes in or elimination of
the statutory compulsory licenses for cable television carriage of broadcast signals. Such changes, if
made, could adversely affect the ability of our cable television systems to obtain such programming, and
could increase the cost of such programming.
Access for Persons with Disabilities. The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (the
"Accessibility Act") gives the FCC the authority to adopt rules aimed at ensuring that persons with
disabilities can more fully access the programming we carry. Pursuant to the Accessibility Act, in August
2011, the FCC reimposed video description requirements on some networks we carry and required cable
operators to pass through such video description to subscribers.
Other Regulation. We are subject to various other regulations, including those related to political
broadcasting; home wiring; the blackout of certain network, sports and syndicated programming;
prohibitions on transmitting obscene programming; limitations on advertising in children's programming;
and standards for emergency alerts. The FCC also imposes various technical standards on our operations,
including barring cable operators from encrypting service carried on the basic tier, but it is considering
amending the ban on encryption to permit encryption in cable systems that have gone all-digital (i.e.,
those that have eliminated analog service).
High-Speed Data
Regulatory Classification. Broadband Internet access services are classified by the FCC as "information
services" for regulatory purposes. The FCC has traditionally subjected information services to a lesser
degree of regulation than "telecommunications services," which are offered to the public for a fee on a
common carrier basis. Some parties have asked the FCC to reverse this determination and classify
broadband Internet access services as "telecommunications services." The FCC thus far has declined to
do so. If the FCC changes the classification of these services, our high speed data service could be
subject to substantially greater regulation.