Link TV - FSTV -- why not further reach? or more stations like that?

[eablair3]

I was reading that these two stations got their rights to broadcast on satellite as a result of an FCC rule in or about 2000 providing that satellite companies allot about 4% of their channels to "public interest" channels.

Why can't this be done with cable operators? I know cable operators are more local -- at least the national companies supposedly operate more locally -- but it seems it wouldn't be that much of a stretch to make a finding that these are "national" issues and impact interstate commerce and so forth so as to have the same rule requiring stations like LinkTV and FSTV to be broadcast on all cable systems?

It seems like there is more than enough capacity. The cable company I have repeats probably close to a hundred channels now on two different channel numbers. And, those with HD have 3 different channels (2 in standard, and one in HD).

With all these cable channels run by a few large companies, some involved in defense contracting, that the different viewpoints are really being limited. I understand that the large national cable companies like Comcast probably don't want to ahve to broadcast stations like LinkTV or FSTV.

I suppose it boils down to there not being enough political power to make it, or anything like it, happen. But, I was wondering how did LinkTV and FSTV get their authority in 2000 to be made to be given channels on satellite tv? Anyone know the more specific history on this?