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31 J. Broad. & Elec. Media 193 (1987)
Perceived Impact of the Cable Policy Act of 1984

handle is hein.journals/jbem31 and id is 203 raw text is: lournal ot'Broadcasting & Electronic Media Volume 31, Number 2, Spring 1987, pp. 193-205 Perceived Impact of the Cable Policy Act of 1984 Wenmouth Williams, Jr. and Kathleen Mahoney The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 was the result of negotiations between local governments and the cable television industry. Not all affected parties agreed the Act would benefit them. The purpose of this survey of local regulators and cable companies was to assess perceptions of current relation- ships and the perceived impact of the Act. The results indicated that those from the cable industry most satisfied with the status quo were deregulated franchises who felt the new law would benefit them. Local regulators with franchises requiring public hearings prior to changes felt the new law would have negative effects. In October 1984 Congress acted to set regulatory policy for the cable television industry by passing the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 (Cable Act). The new law attempted to strike a delicate regulatory balance between the FCC, local governments, and marketplace competition where, in the past, each of these entities had vied for dominance. The Cable Act was to be the solution to the ongoing problem of who, or what, should exercise the most power over local cable operations. The law was passed at a time when the conflicts between cable operators and local regulators were at their peak (Cooney, 1983; Cox, Marquette Cablevision Agree on Suit Settlement, 1983; Franchise Promises Come Back to Haunt Warner, 1984; Landro, 1983; Stoller, 1984). Many of the conflicts arose in newly franchised urban areas in which cable operators, faced with competition for what were believed to be lucrative franchises, promised services that could not be delivered economically. In addition, cities demanded state- of-the-art systems in their Requests for Proposals with little regard for the cost of such systems. The Cable Act was, in part, designed to curtail this Wenmouth Williams, Ir. (Ph.D., Florida State University, 1974) is Associate Professor in the TV- Radio Department at Ithaca College. His research interests include policy and media effects. Kath- leen Mahoney (Ph.D., Indiana University, 1983) is Assistant Professor in the TV-Radio Department at Ithaca College. Her research interests include legal, political, and management issues. This study was funded by an Ithaca College faculty grant. The authors thank Kathy Wolverton for her assistance. This manus ript was accepted for publication December 1986. @) 1987 Broadcast Edu ation Association

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