Cable television rates would be more tightly regulated by a bill headed for a House vote.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 31-12 Wednesday in favor of legislation that brings the cable industry under greater government control. But it omitted a key provision designed to increase competition to cable companies, which now are virtual monopolies in more than 90 percent of American communities.Lawmakers generally view competition as the only sure way to control consumer costs.
But the panel omitted a provision that would require programming developed by cable companies to be easily available at reasonable prices to others, such as satellite dish firms, so consumers can choose among companies with equally attractive program offerings.