As it seeks to have the federal government reclassify it as a pay-TV company, Aereo has registered its top corporate communications executive as a lobbyist.
According to documents originally obtained by The Hill, Virginia Lam, senior VP of communications and government affairs for New York-based Aereo, has been registered to lobby on "issues pertaining to antennas, broadcast television and television access online."
Lam has yet to respond to FierceCable's inquiry for comment.
Seeking a path forward after a crippling U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June, Aereo has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission, seeking status as a multichannel video programming operator that would be entitled to broadcast retransmission licenses.
This is after the High Court ruled that Aereo can't take free over-the-air broadcast signals and convert them into a paid SVOD service.
The case between the major broadcasters and Aereo is now back in a lower Manhattan federal court, with broadcasters seeking to permanently enjoin the SVOD service. In a hearing conducted Wednesday, Judge Alison Nathan didn't seem, according to the Hollywood Reporter, to be buying Aereo's argument that it is now an MVPD.
"How many bites at the apple does one get?" she asked.
For more:
- read this post from The Hill
- read this Hollywood Reporter story
Related links:
Aereo set to appear back in court as report surfaces that investors aren't done
Aereo asks FCC for pay-TV operator status
Aereo urges FCC to expand MVPD definition, retrans rules
Rumor mill: Aereo-like platforms may be given program licensing rights by FCC
Multiscreen provider Nimble TV expands to Chicago, draws scrutiny from pay-TV lawyers
Judge strikes down Aereo's 'emergency' attempt to resume service
CBS' Moonves: Aereo never tried to work with us