[tvn]

The concept of free markets is being violated by the cable companies every day.

In a free market, a seller - especially a monopoly such as the typical cable company- is not permitted to use market power to compel a purchaser to buy desired goods and services together with other unwanted goods and services. This is an unlawful tie-in and is a direct violation of antitrust laws.

One doesn't need a new FCC regulation to outlaw the practice. Any viewer can go to a state or federal court and get a court order stopping the sale of cable TV services in packages or tiers.

[Senator Bedfellow]

Sounds great, except that bundling is perfectly legal when you're not a monopoly, and considering that almost everyone in the country who wants MTV has at least three choices of who to provide it, it's kind of hard to argue that cable is a true monopoly.