Jesse Jackson Claims FCC Set Top Reform Plan is Somehow Racist Over the last few months the cable industry has thrown an absolute hissy fit over the FCC's plan to open up the set top box to some competition. As it stands, the FCC's plan (pdf) is to require cable operators to make their content available to a wide variety of third-party hardware. The goal is cheaper, better hardware and service, and to put an end to the cable industry's $20 billion annual monopoly thanks to cable set top box rental fees.

Obviously the cable industry likes that the average consumer spends $231 annually on such fees, and as such has been attacking the FCC's plan with an endless series of editorials in papers and websites nationwide claiming the FCC's plan will hurt privacy, diversity, security, puppies, and unravel the very fabric of the time space continuum. The latest such editorial is courtesy of Jesse Jackson, who in an editorial over at USAToday tries to claim that the FCC's plan to "unlock the box" is somehow in the same wheelhouse as the "snarling dogs, water hoses and church bombings" used by racists to historically spread fear in the American South: quote: National news coverage of the snarling dogs, water hoses and church bombings in the American South were the catalysts to exposing the ugly truths of racism and bigotry in the 1960s. Local news outlets gave new meaning to what the struggle looked like for people on its front lines. That is why a new proposal at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate TV “set top boxes" has raised so much concern. Because racism and horrible behavior exists the FCC's plan to bring better, cheaper set top boxes to consumers "raises concern"? That's not much of an argument, and frankly comparing the FCC's plan to vicious, racist brutality is arguably grotesque. Jackson's missive doesn't really get much better -- or accurate -- as it goes on: quote: Essentially, the FCC is proposing that small and diverse television programmers such as Revolt and Vme TV hand over their television content to third party device manufacturers without any compensation. These companies could then pull networks apart, ignore copyright protections and dismantle the local and national advertising streams that have traditionally supported high quality, multicultural content. That's what the cable industry has tried to claim, but that's not what's happening. Again, under the FCC's proposal (assuming it ever comes to pass), customers would still pay cable companies an arm and a leg for programming; that programming would just be delivered -- using the systems and copy protection of cable's choice -- to a wider variety of third-party hardware. That technically should result in cheaper hardware with no rental fees or CableCARDs, as well as a more diverse array of content and streaming options than ever before. Because racism and horrible behavior exists the FCC's plan to bring better, cheaper set top boxes to consumers "raises concern"? That's not much of an argument, and frankly comparing the FCC's plan to vicious, racist brutality is arguably grotesque. Jackson's missive doesn't really get much better -- or accurate -- as it goes on:That's what the cable industry has tried to claim, but that's not what's happening. Again, under the FCC's proposal (assuming it ever comes to pass), customers would still pay cable companies an arm and a leg for programming; that programming would just be delivered -- using the systems and copy protection of cable's choice -- to a wider variety of third-party hardware. That technically should result in cheaper hardware with no rental fees or CableCARDs, as well as a more diverse array of content and streaming options than So why would Jackson be trying to delay or derail a plan that would save minorities money and improve their viewing options? Cable and phone companies have long co-opted many minority and other groups, giving them donations in exchange for parroting of policy positions. Even in instances where those positions might significantly hurt constituents (for example opposing net neutrality, or supporting awful mergers). That the cable sector -- which nabs $21 billion annually in set top box rental fees -- has to resort to this kind of slight of hand should clue you in to the quality of their argument. That the cable sector -- which nabs $21 billion annually in set top box rental fees -- has to resort to this kind of slight of hand should clue you in to the quality of their argument.







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Most recommended from 52 comments

IluvMoney (banned)

join:2015-05-04

MiddleClass 48 recommendations IluvMoney (banned) Member Of course he did Jessee Jackson is notorious for playing the race card. He is also notorious for shaking down corporations for donations so that they can get support from his organization. Which cable companies paid his shakedown demands?

cowboyro

Premium Member

join:2000-10-11

Shelton, CT 34 recommendations cowboyro Premium Member If Jesse Jackson says it's racist ...then it's a damn good reason to go ahead with it.

odreian615

join:2006-01-18

Chicago, IL 30 recommendations odreian615 Member Blacks under 50 don't give two shiats about this guy I'm black and from Chicago(West Side), and never heard anyone mention this guy in a positive light in the last 15 years. Back in the day he was doing some good, but now he's just trolling(Same with Al $harpton). A lot of the stuff whites think blacks are doing or are into, is just not true. BLM, Paula Deen and other shiat the media and SJW hypes up , most of us are like meh. I have a very large family, and no one have ever talked about going to a BLM protest.

Polonium9

I'm not a big fan of Bagels

join:2014-06-17

Leesburg, FL 11 recommendations Polonium9 Member Does he know what a set-top box is "It's racist because I said it is" is basically what he says, rather than looking into it and studying it for more than one millionth of a femtosecond. Or getting orders (money) from the heads of telecom to call it racist, as previously stated. strange_69

join:2001-08-07

Ridgecrest, CA 11 recommendations strange_69 Member Follow the money. As in all cases, these muckrakers do nothing for free. They don't care about the people, they just want to get paid. Follow the money and you will find the real party behind this. Any bets???

Anon5e483

@teksavvy.com 10 recommendations Anon5e483 Anon How the hell is this racist? You have to be paid to spout that crap. Oh wait..... JChris

join:2015-11-19

Raleigh, NC 5 recommendations JChris Member False accusations of racism have become the norm. False accusations of racism (and sexism) have gotten so common, that whenever I hear someone claim that something or someone is racist, I automatically assume that the person making the claim is lying. InternetJeff

I'm your huckleberry.

join:2001-09-25

. 4 recommendations InternetJeff Member Jessie Jackson Is looking to shake someone down again.



Nuts.