• B&C, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 12:52 AM

The Supreme Court Monday punted on a decision on whether to hear Cablevision's challenge to the must-carry rules. One veteran attorney said the reason could be anything from one of the justices asking for more time to check conflicts of interest, to a substantive disagreement over taking the case to logistical issues. Cablevision in January asked the High Court to review the constitutionality of the must-carry rules, which require cable operators to carry local broadcast stations. The challenge was backed by most of the other major operators represented by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association.

The full court in October 2009 rejected Cablevision's petition for a re-hearing. It took an expansive view of the benefits of the must-carry rule, citing the Supreme Court's Turner decision and concluding that it did not mean to limit must-carry to the minimum of replicating a DMA.

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