OCT Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of Cable Television (OCT) is to: (1) regulate the provision of "cable service" in the District of Columbia (as that term is defined by the District's cable television laws); (2) protect and advance the cable service-related interests of the District and its residents; and (3) produce and cablecast live and recorded video and other programming by way of the District's public, educational and government (PEG) cable channels.

To accomplish this mission, OCT regularly engages in the following functions (among others):

1. OCT regulates the District's cable service providers by enforcing applicable federal and District cable television laws and regulations (including existing District Cable Franchise Agreements);
   
   
2. OCT establishes cable franchise agreements between cable service providers and the District, and it ensures compliance with those franchise agreements;
   
   
3. OCT works to facilitate harmonious relationships between District cable service providers and their customers by mediating disputes and enforcing applicable customer service regulations;
   
   
4. OCT facilitates open access to the District government through the operation of its government cable channels (e.g., OCT 13 and OCT 16) and its educationalcable channels (e.g., the District's Public School System's cable channels);
   
   
5. OCT works to create and maintain an economic and regulatory environment that promotes competition in the cable television industry in the District; and
   
   
6. OCT works to attract the deployment and maintenance of advanced cable services in the District.