The American Cable Association has issued the following caution to the FCC: Ensuring that consumers have access to all lawful content means the FCC must stop powerful content providers from using wholesale arrangements to restrict consumer access to content. ACA cited ESPN360.com as an example where the most powerful sports programmer denies access to content, unless a consumer subscribes to a particular broadband provider.

"ACA believes that content distributors such as ESPN360 should live under the same Net Neutrality rules as broadband service providers," ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said in a statement. "The foremost principle of Net Neutrality is that consumers can access the legal content of their choice.  ESPN360 fails that principle, and any regulation must address that."

ESPN360, owned by the Walt Disney Co., is pioneering a closed Internet business model, under which broadband service providers must pay ESPN fees based on their total number of broadband subscribers, forcing those with no interest in watching sporting events on the Internet to subsidize those who routinely want to access ESPN360’s content, according to ACA.

"Despite having the technological know-how to provide this content directly to subscribers for a fee, ESPN has opted to block access to this Web content unless an access provider agrees to place this financial burden on all of its broadband customers," Polka said. "That is wrong, and the FCC must ensure that each consumer has the individual choice to buy or not buy ESPN360."

The Daily

Subscribe

Next Frontier: CableLabs Explores More than Speed Connectivity Era

Internet speed records are all the rage these days, with two separate breakthroughs making the headlines recently. One is more in the distant future, but the other hits closer to home.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Sep 11
2025 Faxies Awards Faxies Nominations Open! Final deadline: 4/4/25
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact Carley Ashley, [email protected], for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.