OVDs Shouldn't Face MVPD Obligations if not Carrying Local Broadcast Signals, Telletopia Says

Multichannel video programming distributors that don't carry local broadcast signals and aren't employing retransmission consent benefits that come with MVPD regulation shouldn't be subject to the regulatory burdens of those rules either, Telletopia said in an FCC ex parte filing posted Wednesday in docket 14-261 on a call between Telletopia and staff of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. The nonprofit over-the-top service (see 1511100014) said online video distributors (OVD) carrying local broadcast signals need to be classified as MVPDs to be competitive with cable, satellite and other video providers. Without a retrans mechanism for online provision of local broadcast stations, local broadcast programming can't be distributed online and stations can't be compensated, said the nonprofit. The obligations and privileges that come under MVPD regulations "are of particular importance to entities seeking to retransmit local broadcast station signals -- the full content of which is unavailable to consumers over the Internet via other sources," Telletopia said. But if an OVD classified as an MVPD isn't interested in station carriage, it said, "the obligations of the MVPD rules should not be triggered."