Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by janrinok on Friday January 27 2017, @12:57AM   Printer-friendly
from the big-business-rules dept.

Ars Technica reports that nineteen Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have written a letter (PDF) to the new chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), asking him to "close the docket" (end) a proposal regarding set-top boxes.

Tom Wheeler, the previous chair, had made the proposal, which he had touted by saying:

If adopted, consumers would no longer have to pay monthly fees to rent a box. Instead, they would be able to access their pay-TV content via free apps on a variety of devices, including smart TVs, streaming boxes, tablets and smartphones. Consumers would also enjoy a better viewing experience thanks to integrated search and new innovation that will flow from enhanced competitive choice.

The proposal (PDF) advocates that

Consumers should be able to choose how they access the Multichannel Video Programming Distributor's (MVPD's) – cable, satellite or telco companies [sic] – video services to which they subscribe. For example, consumers should be able to have the choice of accessing programming through the MVPD-provided interface on a pay-TV set-top box or app, or through devices such as a tablet or smart TV using a competitive app or software. MVPDs and competitors should be able to differentiate themselves and compete based on the experience they offer users, including the quality of the user interface and additional features like suggested content, integration with home entertainment systems, caller ID and future innovations.

[Continues...]

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association, a lobbying group representing the cable television industry, had criticised the proposal, saying (NPRM is short for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking):

Numerous parties have raised serious concerns with the NPRM's proposal, including more than 180 members of Congress, studios, networks, unions, independent and diverse content creators, directors, writers, record labels, small and large service providers, device manufacturers, and nationally-respected advocates of consumer privacy, disability access, diversity, energy efficiency, commerce, intellectual property, innovation, and labor. These parties have demonstrated the many legal, technical, and other failings of the NPRM's proposal.

related stories:
FCC Says It Will "Unlock the Set-Top Box"
After Setback, FCC Chairman Keeps Pushing Set-Top Box and Privacy Rules
Ajit Pai to Become New Head of the FCC
FCC Republican Wants to Let States Block Municipal Broadband


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 27 2017, @02:25AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 27 2017, @02:25AM (#459270)

    Cable and satellite providers are shit companies with horrible service. When you finally get sick of being abused by them you simply cancel service and tell them to fuck off. If they lose enough customers they'll be forced to lower prices or improve service. I don't understand why everyone acts like they can't survive without TV...

    Starting Score:    0  points
    Moderation   +1  
       Insightful=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  

    Total Score:   1  
  • (Score: 2) by GungnirSniper on Friday January 27 2017, @03:01AM

    by GungnirSniper (1671) on Friday January 27 2017, @03:01AM (#459282) Journal

    There's still more people at the green site. Habits are hard to break.

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by Nerdfest on Friday January 27 2017, @04:46AM

      by Nerdfest (80) on Friday January 27 2017, @04:46AM (#459322)

      Have you seen the quality of the comments? I check them out every few months and it's sad how bad it is.

      • (Score: 4, Funny) by tibman on Friday January 27 2017, @03:18PM

        by tibman (134) Subscriber Badge on Friday January 27 2017, @03:18PM (#459488)

        Thank you for your service.

        --
        SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by dry on Friday January 27 2017, @03:02AM

    by dry (223) on Friday January 27 2017, @03:02AM (#459283) Journal

    The problem is that the cable companies are often also the only internet provider (or like here where the telecom also competes in both spaces) and while making sure competition is illegal through lobbying, will just jack up internet prices to cover the cable losses.
    Here in Canada (actually BC as it varies per Province), while we have a couple of companies supplying cable, internet and cell service, they all seem to charge the same and increase their prices in lock step. While the federal government has tried to encourage competition now and again, it's hard to enter a market with such barriers to entry.

  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday January 27 2017, @03:07PM

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Friday January 27 2017, @03:07PM (#459484) Journal

    I cancelled cable tv. I have internet, but have two local choices of providers. Both of them do offer tv content which I refuse. I'll stick with internet streaming services and an antenna. I don't watch that much TV, and I can find more than enough entertainment on a Roku with a few paid channels.

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
  • (Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday January 27 2017, @09:26PM

    by mcgrew (701) <publish@mcgrewbooks.com> on Friday January 27 2017, @09:26PM (#459715) Homepage Journal

    I don't understand why everyone acts like they can't survive without TV...

    I don't understand why you people think you need cable to watch TV. I have no cable, live in a city of 110,000 and get 18 channels in 1080p.

    --
    mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org
  • (Score: 2) by JeanCroix on Saturday January 28 2017, @02:41PM

    by JeanCroix (573) on Saturday January 28 2017, @02:41PM (#459887)

    When you finally get sick of being abused by them you simply cancel service and tell them to fuck off.

    I've done this. Several times. But I get my internet through the same company which provides cable around here. So every time I go to cancel the cable, the phone tree routes me to a "retention specialist" who tries to talk me off the ledge. And it's worked every time, because they always discount my "bundle" to make it more expensive to have my internet alone. Yes, they're basically giving me a price break on internet to keep my cable. Generally about $10 a month difference. I never watch the tv, but sometimes I leave it on to keep the dog company when I'm not home...

    I've tried the company's local competitor, too. They're worse.