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FCC Moves Ahead With Proposal Aiming to Make Subscription TV Available on Any Set-Top Box
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission, in a three-to-two decision, has voted to move forward with its proposal that could de-couple cable subscriptions from cable set-top boxes in the future, according to The Verge.
FCC chairman Tom Wheeler first introduced the proposal last month, and it will now move to a comment period during which time businesses and customers in the U.S. will be able to voice their opinions about the changes.
Under the proposed guidelines, cable or satellite TV subscribers would be able to access their programming package using virtually any set-top box, including the Apple TV, rather than be forced to lease a cable box from Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, or other cable or satellite providers.
Apple, Amazon, Roku, and other set-top box makers would be able to create an interface, such as an app, that provides subscribers with full access to their TV package, which Wheeler believes will lead to improved choice and innovation for customers. The move could also drive down costs of set-top boxes.
The competition, the Chairman argues, will drive down costs and improve device options for consumers. He said at the assembled meeting that "consumers have no choice today," and that the proposed rules did not make major changes for consumers. "It only creates the opportunity for them to have choice."Nevertheless, the FCC may face difficulties in attempting to get this proposal passed and implemented. While cable and satellite TV providers would retain control over their content, many are still reluctant to provide Apple or other companies with any control over how and where it is displayed.
"While the cost of other technologies have fallen as competition increased, the cost of a set-top box has risen at more than three times the rate of inflation for American paid-TV subscribers over that same period," FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said at the meeting, in support of the proposed rules. She noted that more than $200 per year was spent on set-top box rentals.
The FCC's proposal could lead to a more streamlined cable watching experience on the new Apple TV, but Apple will continue to lack full control over the interface. A truer cord-cutting solution could be Apple's much-rumored streaming TV service, although those plans have reportedly been placed on hold for now.
Tag: FCC
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Caution)
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35 months ago
Why don't cable providers have an app on the ATV? Wouldn't this save them a lot of money by not having to provide a box to everyone?
The boxes are there simply to suck money out of customers.
35 months ago
Tom Wheeler sounded like an unmitigated disaster at first, but he's proven to be pretty on point
35 months ago
Why don't cable providers have an app on the ATV? Wouldn't this save them a lot of money by not having to provide a box to everyone?
Because charging you $20/month in perpetuity for something that costs $250 (I'm guessing) is a fantastic revenue stream.
35 months ago
Hopefully this can get implemented and I can pay on a monthly basis. I am tired of dealing with Comcast in the US and their lousy equipment.
35 months ago
Let's hope this turns out better than the cablecard setup that was suppose to allow us a great choice in cable boxes.
35 months ago
This has to be a plus for the industry. They spend so much time fixing them, replacing them, installing them. If they just said 'What's you ID on the box', or you just added the box to your account somehow, that would put more money in their pockets. Oh, wait. What am I saying...
The pre-breakup AT&T made a MINT off of little old ladies and the 'rent' on their Princess phones. People were paying rent even after they themselves tossed the phones. I remember we had the power injecter still plugged in until the day we sold the place. My parents thought that it was necessary 'to make the phone work'. All it did was power the night light on one of the incarnations of that model phone.
The pre-breakup AT&T made a MINT off of little old ladies and the 'rent' on their Princess phones. People were paying rent even after they themselves tossed the phones. I remember we had the power injecter still plugged in until the day we sold the place. My parents thought that it was necessary 'to make the phone work'. All it did was power the night light on one of the incarnations of that model phone.
35 months ago
There is an unbelievable monopoly here in NYC as well. The cable companies are like the mafia, they pay off building owners to deny FIOS. (Even though FIOS is not that much better).
I have to threaten to leave them to keep getting the promotion prices every year.
I have to threaten to leave them to keep getting the promotion prices every year.
35 months ago
HELLO To Higher Internet Costs
I think this could drive down internet costs... 1) Think about the number of additional subscribers there could be and 2) how cable providers can spin this. I think this could be a lot like cell phone package changes in the past few years - it's all about the internet and not the minutes/text messages. Same thing could happen here - it's all about the internet and not the channels. We shall see though.
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