American cable operators will not be required to carry all digital services transmitted by local stations, the FCC ruled today.

Many local stations in the US "multicast," in essence operating their own digital terrestrial TV multiplexes. Commercial broadcasters often use their digital multiplex to transmit an HD channel and two ancillary services like a news channel and weather radar.

The Federal Communications Commission today decided on a 4-1 vote not to grant these multicast services "must carry" status, which would force cable operators to carry them.

"The record simply does not demonstrate with any strength that vital or important government interests are advanced, sufficient to justify further encroachment on the First Amendment rights of cable providers," said the FCC's outgoing chairman, Michael Powell.