§76.57. Channel positioning. — Inbound Citations

(1) Any signal that was permitted (or, in the case of cable systems commencing operations after June 24, 1981, that would have been permitted) under the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission in effect on June 24, 1981 (former 47 CFR 76.1 through 76.617 (1980)); or

(f) Open video system operators shall comply with the provisions of § 76.57 to the closest extent possible. Any provision of § 76.57 that refers to a “cable operator” shall apply to an open video system operator. Any provision of § 76.57 that refers to a “cable system” shall apply to an open video system, except the references to “cable system” in § 76.57(d) which shall apply to an open video system operator.

(1) Whenever a local commercial television station or a qualified low power television station believes that a cable operator has failed to meet its carriage or channel positioning obligations, pursuant to §§ 76.56 and 76.57, such station shall notify the operator, in writing, of the alleged failure and identify its reasons for believing that the cable operator is obligated to carry the signal of such station or position such signal on a particular channel.

(f) Open video system operators shall comply with the provisions of § 76.57 to the closest extent possible. Any provision of § 76.57 that refers to a “cable operator” shall apply to an open video system operator. Any provision of § 76.57 that refers to a “cable system” shall apply to an open video system, except the references to “cable system” in § 76.57(d) which shall apply to an open video system operator.

(k) A cable system commencing new operation is required to notify all local commercial and noncommercial broadcast stations of its intent to commence service. The cable operator must send such notification, by certified mail except as provided in this paragraph (k), at least 60 days prior to commencing cable service. After July 31, 2020, the cable operator must send such notification by electronic delivery in accordance with § 76.1600. Commercial broadcast stations must notify the cable system within 30 days of the receipt of such notice of their election for either must-carry or retransmission consent with respect to such new cable system. If the commercial broadcast station elects must-carry, it must also indicate its channel position in its election statement to the cable system. Such election shall remain valid for the remainder of any three-year election interval, as established in paragraph (f)(2) of this section. Noncommercial educational broadcast stations should notify the cable operator of their request for carriage and their channel position. The new cable system must notify each station if its signal quality does not meet the standards for carriage and if any copyright liability would be incurred for the carriage of such signal. Pursuant to § 76.57(e), a commercial broadcast station which fails to respond to such a notice shall be deemed to be a must-carry station for the remainder of the current three-year election period.