The head of the Federal Communications Commission is reportedly struggling to find enough support from agency commissioners to regulate cable television companies more tightly.

The five-member commission is set to vote today on a report, proposed by Kevin Martin that would give the commission expanded powers over the cable industry after making a formal finding that it had grown too big.

A defeat would be a major blow to consumer groups and a setback for Martin, who has led the effort for tighter regulation. Last month, the commission approved his proposal to strike down exclusive contracts for a particular cable company to serve an apartment building. Last December, the agency approved a proposal to force municipalities to move more swiftly on applications by phone companies to offer rival video service to the cable companies.

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