VIEWS MIXED ON BILL'S EFFECTS

Local television station officials Thursday hailed U.S. House action to approve a new cable TV bill a "great victory" for consumers.

But Jim Dufek, a member of the Cape Girardeau's Citizens Cable TV Advisory Board, doubts whether the bill will accomplish much.

The House voted 280-128 in favor of the "Cable Television Consumer Protection Act," which is designed to bring the cable industry under tighter controls.

The measure now goes to the Senate, which is expected to act on it next week.

Howard Meagle, general manager of KFVS-12 in Cape Girardeau, said the margin of the vote, about 68 percent, is sufficient to override President George Bush's threatened veto.

"It was one for the consumer today," Meagle said. "I think the strength of the vote today is very encouraging."

Meagle said cable industry lobbyists tried for months to persuade lawmakers to reject the bill, focusing most recently on a provision that would require cable companies to negotiate with local broadcast stations for the right to retransmit their signal.

Under the 1984 Cable TV Act, which deregulated much of the industry, cable companies now can retransmit broadcast signals without permission.

But Meagle said retransmission rights are only a "minor part" of the overall bill when compared to such provisions as restoration of rate regulations for basic cable service.

Steven B. Engles, president and general manager of KBSI-23 in Cape Girardeau, also praised the House's overwhelming support of the bill.

"I would guess that all broadcasters are euphoric," he said. "I think the House came down on the side of consumers today."

But Dufek, who is TV operations manager for Southeast Missouri State University's mass communications program, didn't share Engles' and Meagle's euphoria.

"It doesn't give any control over anything but the basic tier, which essentially is over-the-air signals anyway," he said. "I don't see anything for consumers."

Dufek said cable operators will continue to increase rates in their upper programming tiers, which will remain unregulated and subject to continual rate increases.

Roger Harms, manager of the Cape Girardeau office of TCI Cablevision of Missouri Inc., agreed that the higher operating costs from more regulation will be passed on to cable subscribers.

He said the cable bill also requires TCI to carry all local broadcast stations, which will mean some cable stations will be removed to make room for stations like ACT-TV, Channel 45.

"Which ones do you drop?" he said. "I'll guarantee some person's going to say that's my favorite channel."

Dufek did praise two provisions in the cable bill: the retransmission requirements and a mandate that cable operators must make their signal available to compet~ing companies.

But Harms said the bill in unfair because it forces existing cable companies to make all their programming available to competitors.

"Some of these programs were created by the cable industry for our customers, and now they're saying we have to give that programming to our competitors at the original cost of production?" he said. "They're saying you're going to have to compete with your hands tied behind your back."

Dufek said there is little in the bill that's favorable to consumers, or anyone involved in the issue.

"The networks don't get their due, cable TV companies are the bad guy, and of course the consumer ends up paying more anyway," he said.

Rep. Bill Emerson of Cape Girardeau was one of those who voted for the measure Thursday. As late as Tuesday, the congressman was undecided whether he would support the bill or not.

"As I have contended for a long time, some sort of regulation is needed in this industry to provide better service and reasonable rates to cable television customers," he said Thursday.

Emerson added that if television networks use the law to "gouge cable outlets," which in turn pass the costs on to subscribers, Congress will revisit the issue.

But Dufek said if anybody's to blame for high cable rates and poor service, it's Congress for deregulating the industry in the first place.

"They're the ones to give them full rein, allowing them to charge whatever they want," he said. "So now Congress turns around and says they're going to regulate only the basic tier. It's a joke."