Can cable access channels rebroadcast FTA ones?

[mdovell]

I would like to expand a bit of content on my local cable access channel. My provider is starting to branch off into some international tv. So far it is mostly Spanish but there is RAI, TV5, CCTV9 etc. Rebroadcasting those I'm sure would cause a conflict of interest.

I'm not a lawyer but I would be under the believe that as long as something is free to air that it should be OK. Does that sound right?

I would not do anything that is of a wild feed as that would raise red flags.

I would probably like to get international, governmental and non profit programming for the most part.

 

[Davage]

I think that you WOULD run into trouble rebroadcasting signals received from satellite, unless you have express written permission to rebroadcast them. Satellites are used to get a signal from point A to point B, and are private communications. It is up to the broadcaster as to whether they encrypt or not. Just because a program is not scrambled does not mean that it is in the public domain.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

No it would be illegal, since the cable access channel does not have permission from the station to use their copyrighted content.

 

[mdovell]

I guess I'll have to contact the major networks of them then.