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
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday January 27 2017, @09:22PM
killing the set-top box measure keeps their rental fees, but only exacerbates the reasons why people cut the cord in the first place
It doesn't matter. Cable is obsolete unless you're living in a valley or something. Now, in 1980 it was great. OTA TV had snow, ghosts, and a limited number of channels. Even in a city the size of St Louis or Orlando you got onlt five or six channels.
Cable gave you those channels without ghosts and snow and audio static, plus half a dozen more that were uncensored and had no commercials. Ten bucks a month including HBO. Then the programming quality deteriorated in the late '90s; Discovery traded science for Trick My Truck, History went from the fall of Rome to space aliens. Cable channels now not only had commercials, there were ads on-screen during the programming.
Then TV went digital, and cable was entirely obsolete. No snow, no ghosts, no static. Four times or more the bandwidth so we started getting more channels. I get twice as many channels now as cable gave me in 1980, and in 1080p resolution, and in a city of 100k, not Orlando.
Every single reason to have cable TV disappeared when TV went digital. The set top box is dead. Nothing to see here (except 18 channels in Springfield and three times that many in St Louis).
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