CFR

76.1512—Programming information.

(a) An open video system operator shall not unreasonably discriminate in favor of itself or its affiliates with regard to material or information (including advertising) provided by the operator to subscribers for the purpose of selecting programming on the open video system, or in the way such material or information is provided to subscribers.

Code of Federal Regulations

Note to paragraph (a): “Material or information” as used in paragraph (a) of this section means material or information that a subscriber uses to actively select programming at the point of program selection.

(b) In accordance with paragraph (a) of this section:

(1) An open video system operator shall not discriminate in favor of itself or its affiliate on any navigational device, guide or menu;

(2) An open video system operator shall not omit television broadcast stations or other unaffiliated video programming services carried on the open video system from any navigational device, guide (electronic or paper) or menu;

(3) An open video system operator shall not restrict a video programming provider's ability to use part of the provider's channel capacity to provide an individualized guide or menu to the provider's subscribers;

(4) Where an open video system operator provides no navigational device, guide or menu, its affiliate's navigational device, guide or menu shall be subject to the requirements of Section 653(b)(1)(E) of the Communications Act;

(5) An open video system operator may permit video programming providers, including its affiliate, to develop and use their own navigational devices. If an open video system operator permits video programming providers, including its affiliate, to develop and use their own navigational devices, the operator must create an electronic menu or guide that all video programming providers must carry containing a non-discriminatory listing of programming providers or programming services available on the system and informing the viewer how to obtain additional information on each of the services listed;

(6) An open video system operator must grant access, for programming providers that do not wish to use their own navigational device, to the navigational device used by the open video system operator or its affiliate; and

(7) If an operator provides an electronic guide or menu that complies with paragraph (b)(5) of this section, its programming affiliate may create its own menu or guide without being subject to the requirements of Section 653(b)(1)(E) of the Communications Act.

(c) An open video system operator shall ensure that video programming providers or copyright holders (or both) are able to suitably and uniquely identify their programming services to subscribers.

(d) An open video system operator shall transmit programming identification without change or alteration if such identification is transmitted as part of the programming signal.

[61 FR 28708, June 5, 1996, as amended at 61 FR 43177, Aug. 21, 1996]

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