FCC Waffles, Cooking Up Weaker Cable Box Reform Plan After facing some opposition from its own commissioners, the FCC is dramatically modifying its original plan to bring competition to the cable box. Originally, the FCC approved rules that would have required cable operators provide all programming to third-party set top box vendors, increasing competition and resulting in cheaper, better, and more open cable boxes. But thanks to a massive cable industry disinformation effort that included everything from the Copyright Office to Jesse Jackson, some FCC staffers balked.

quote: The compromise that Mr. Wheeler plans to circulate among the commissioners, and which was still being refined late last week, is expected to borrow heavily from an alternative proposal floated in June by a coalition of mostly cable and satellite-TV companies. It would allow device makers to incorporate cable apps, but would leave programming under the companies’ control. But the Journal notes that cable operators still aren't happy with the proposal, worrying that it opens the door to the FCC dictating terms of contracts between cable companies and device makers (something the FCC likely feels is necessary to prevent the "new" system from being as closed and punitive as the existing cable box): quote: Cable operators and media companies also are suspicious of a proposed new FCC process for licensing their apps to device makers, viewing it as a chance for the FCC to meddle in their contracts.The FCC’s “updated proposal will unequivocally fail if there is a possibility of governmental or other third-party intervention in the programming rights, obligations and restrictions negotiated by program suppliers, broadcasters and [cable firms],” the National Association of Broadcasters said in written comments to the agency Friday. In short the cable industry would prefer nothing change at all, since the current closed cable box ecosystem not only gives them additional control, it helps them collect $21 billion in cable box rental fees annually. The FCC is rumored to be circulating the proposal this week, and it should be revealed to the public shortly. Now according to The Wall Street Journal the FCC is pushing a new compromise plan that would more heavily focus on requiring cable operators simply provide their content via apps, something the cable industry itself had suggested (since many already do this anyway):But the Journal notes that cable operators still aren't happy with the proposal, worrying that it opens the door to the FCC dictating terms of contracts between cable companies and device makers (something the FCC likely feels is necessary to prevent the "new" system from being as closed and punitive as the existing cable box):In short the cable industry would prefer nothing change at all, since the current closed cable box ecosystem not only gives them additional control, it helps them collect $21 billion in cable box rental fees annually. The FCC is rumored to be circulating the proposal this week, and it should be revealed to the public shortly.







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Most recommended from 36 comments

tmc8080

join:2004-04-24

Brooklyn, NY 2 recommendations tmc8080 Member cord cutting take a hint WHY so many consumers are cutting the cord subscriptions to video services.

consumers seem to have found their OWN apps and/or access to content are WAY ahead of this curve. biochemistry

Premium Member

join:2003-05-09

92361 2 recommendations biochemistry Premium Member Plug and Play Remember the good old days when you plugged your TV directly into the wall with a coaxial cable and watched cable? Outlet fees were banned so it didn't even cost extra. No special cablecard. Bring that back.