Senate blocks new rules on cable TV transmission

The Senate voted against new regulations on cable data transmission, including banking and shopping services, and against exempting current cable systems from the bill's new regulatory provisions.

Before its expected approval of the first national policy on cable television , the Senate voted down an amendment by Sen. James Abdnor (R) of South Dakota. He wanted to put cable on the same regulatory footing as local telephone companies in the field of data transmission. Much of Tuesday's argument turned on whether keeping phone companies regulated while excepting cable companies would tend to increase telephone rates.