FilmOn X Lobbies FCC For OTTs to be Designated MVPDs

The FCC should adopt the proposed rule changes in its NPRM on designating some online video services as multichannel video programming distributors, said FilmOn X CEO Alki David in meetings last week with Commissioner Ajit Pai, Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake and aides to Chairman Tom Wheeler, aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel, and staff from the bureau and Office of General Counsel. That is according to an ex parte filing posted Wednesday in docket 14-261. Adopting the rulemaking, and employing a “light regulatory touch” could combine with recent court rulings favorable to online video services receiving compulsory copyright licenses to “remove barriers to entry” for online video distributors, FilmOn said. Designating OVDs as MVPDs would “spur investment and innovation,” FilmOn said.