OTI Strongly Opposes Anti-Consumer Rider in FCC Funding Bill

A Senate Appropriations subcommittee approved a funding bill today that includes a rider that would block efforts to break up the cable industry’s monopoly on the market for set-top navigation devices. The rider would force the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to halt its ongoing effort to promote set-top box competition until an impact study is completed. The FCC’s effort, dubbed “Unlock the Box,” has the strong support of consumers and President Obama. The full Senate Appropriations Committee plans to vote on the bill tomorrow.

The following quote can be attributed to Joshua Stager, policy counsel for New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“The cable industry’s monopoly over set-top boxes has stifled innovation and locked consumers into expensive, cumbersome devices for far too long. Congress has twice passed laws directing the FCC to promote competition in this market, first in 1996 and again in 2014. The FCC is currently trying to comply with these laws and Congress should not stand in its way. Halting the ongoing rulemaking would only further solidify the cable industry’s stranglehold on this market.

Consumers needed choice and competition 20 years ago when Congress first passed a law directing FCC action, and they’re still waiting. We urge the Senate Appropriations Committee to remove this harmful rider from the underlying bill.”