January 27, 2016

Wyden Applauds FCC Set-Top Box Proposal Increasing Competition and Consumer Choice

Proposal follows letter sent by senators

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded a proposal by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler to increase choice and innovation in the set-top box market. The Chairman’s proposal would create a framework for providing innovators, device manufacturers and app developers the information they need to develop new technologies that will give consumers a choice when accessing video programming. A Senate inquiry last year found almost all multichannel video programming distributors (MVPF) customers rent these video boxes from their provider, and an American household spends on average $232 per year on video box rental fees alone.

Last year, Sen. Wyden joined seven other senators to call on the FCC  to use its authority and initiate a rulemaking to ensure that consumers can use set-top boxes of their choice to access video programming.

“Oregonians and Americans cannot be held captive by big cable’s price gouging. I am pleased Chairman Wheeler answered our call and is taking steps that will open up the set-top box market. Consumers deserve to benefit from increased innovation and choice.” Wyden said.

A copy of the FCC’s proposal can be found here.

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