Under federal must-carry rules, broadcasters can either allow cable systems in their market to carry their signals for free or charge a fee under retransmission consent provisions. On December 3, 2008, it was announced that Inter Mountain Cable (IMC), a cable provider serving parts of Eastern Kentucky, announced that it would drop WKPT from their lineup unless an agreement was reached over retransmission consent. According to "The Mountain Eagle", this dispute has caused concern among officials in the city of Fleming-Neon, where IMC holds the cable television franchise there. The city council in Fleming-Neon have stated that the removal of WKPT would violate IMC's franchise agreement.