Virtual Digital Cable

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VDC Corporation

Type	Private
Founded	2002 in Highland Park, Illinois, USA
Headquarters	Northbrook, Illinois, USA
Key people	Scott Wolf, Co-founder & COO
Industry	Television, Interenet Television, Streaming Media
Products	Cablecasting, Television on the Desktop, IPTV
Slogan	Television Everywhere
Website	www.vdc.com

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VDC Corporation, based in Northbrook, Illinois, is a multichannel video programming distributor, delivering live cable television through broadband connected computers in the United States. They develop and are involved in the distribution and delivery of live cable television programming channels.

1 History
2 Current Service
3 Controversies
4 VDC Legal Filings at The FCC
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

VDC Corporation was founded in 2002 by Scott Wolf. VDC was a pioneer in the delivery of live cable programming to mobile devices. The company transitioned its mobile product to the delivery of live cable television to desktop computers with their Virtual Digital Cable service launched in April of 2006.

In January of 2007, VDC made public its decision to file a Program Access complaint with the FCC to commence a proceeding to obtain enforcement of the program access rules under the 1992 Cable TV Consumer Protection Act, to ensure vertically integrated programming providers sell their programming to VDC. Such providers include Time Warner (CNN, TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, HBO), Liberty Media, (Discovery Channel), Cablevision (Rainbow) and Comcast (E!, Golf Channel).

[edit] Current Service

Currently VDC offers a single subscription package for $8.95 per month, which gives users access to all channels in VDC's current lineup.

[edit] Controversies

Congress attempted to encourage growth and competition in the vertically integrated cable marketplace with the 1992 Cable TV Consumer Protection Act. Using the internet, VDC has brought diversity and increased competition to the marketpalce:

"The term ‘multichannel video programming distributor’ means an entity engaged in the business of making available for purchase, by subscribers or customers, multiple channels of video programming. Such entities include, but are not limited to, a cable operator, a multichannel multipoint distribution service, a direct broadcast satellite service, a television receive-only satellite program distributor, and a satellite master antenna television system operator, as well as buying groups or agents of all such entities." ^[1]

VDC's complaint with the FCC was filed against Turner Broadcasting System^[2] to force Turner into compliance with the 1992 Cable Act and to recognize VDC as an MVPD. This would grant VDC mandatory access to broadcast Turner's programming on VDC's MVPD system.

The FCC debate also raises regulatory and broadcast issues involving net neutrality.