Results 1 to 1 of 1
Thread Information
Users Browsing this Thread
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Hybrid View
-
02-18-2016, 06:50 PM #1
FCC Approves Proposal to Boost TV Set-Top Box Competition
FEB 18 2016, 5:12 PM ET
FCC Approves Proposal to Boost TV Set-Top Box Competition
by REUTERS
The Federal Communications Commission approved on Thursday a proposal to let consumers swap pricey cable boxes for cheaper devices and apps, a change that would boost competition in the $20 billion television set-top box market while delivering a blow to major cable companies.
The new rule, unveiled by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in January, would allow customers to obtain video services from providers such as Alphabet Inc, Apple Inc and Tivo, instead of cable, satellite and other television providers such Comcast and Verizon.
Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and NBC News.
The proposal passed in a 3-2 vote, with three Democratic commissioners including Wheeler in favor and two Republican commissioners dissenting.
Wheeler said the proposal is the beginning of an "information-gathering process" in which the FCC will allow cable providers and other stakeholders a 60-day comment period. If implemented, the industry would then have two years to comply with the rule.
"Technology allows it, the industry at one point proposed something similar to it and the consumers deserve a break and the choice," Wheeler said at Thursday's FCC meeting.
The proposal has set off a frenzied lobbying battle pitting a tech industry eager to tap into the lucrative market against cable and TV companies, which could lose billions of dollars in rental fees for set-top boxes.
Many of those industry providers spoke out against the measure after the vote Thursday.
"While consumers are embracing an apps-based approach that offers a variety of content on more than 450 devices, the FCC has chosen to go down a path that threatens the very competition and innovation that has led to this vibrant marketplace," said Bob Quinn, AT&T's senior vice president of federal regulatory.
Stanton Dodge, general counsel of Dish Network Corp, said: "It is really not clear to us that any new regulation is needed to encourage innovation and in fact would actually hinder it."
The FCC says 99 percent of U.S. customers now must get their boxes from their cable companies, and they pay on average $231 a year to lease the devices.
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/busi...tition-n521041
Last edited by JohnDoe2; 02-18-2016 at 07:28 PM.
NO AMNESTY
Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.
Sign in and post comments here.
Please support our fight against illegal immigration by joining ALIPAC's email alerts here https://eepurl.com/cktGTn
Similar Threads
-
Hagel Approves Navy’s Proposal to Build More Lethal LCS Variant
By JohnDoe2 in forum Other Topics News and IssuesReplies: 0Last Post: 12-12-2014, 01:43 AM -
House approves Keystone pipeline proposal
By JohnDoe2 in forum Other Topics News and IssuesReplies: 3Last Post: 11-18-2014, 07:35 PM -
GODFATHER 2016 Inside the Beltway: A new interest in Rahm Emanuel for 2016?
By AirborneSapper7 in forum General DiscussionReplies: 0Last Post: 03-12-2014, 01:07 AM -
S.C.: House panel approves some illegal immigration proposal
By Jean in forum illegal immigration News Stories & ReportsReplies: 1Last Post: 02-18-2007, 10:35 PM -
Beaufort County council approves illegal immigrants proposal
By Crusader01 in forum illegal immigration News Stories & ReportsReplies: 5Last Post: 12-29-2006, 11:59 AM
More Than Half Of US Voters Want Illegal Immigrants Rounded Up...
05-21-2024, 08:56 AM in illegal immigration News Stories & Reports