Broadcasters can demand carriage of their channels or negotiate for compensation.
The law was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Some broadcasters contend that the provisions should be extended to digital TV channels, which some stations will begin airing this fall. C-SPAN is more vulnerable than most other stations because cable operators don't make any money from the public service. Lamb's letter comes as the FCC prepares to take up the must-carry requirements. The FCC's Cable and Mass Media bureaus are working out last details of draft must-carry rules, which they will send to commissioners in June.