The FCC should take care that its efforts to stimulate third party retail set-top box competition don't interfere with ongoing video standards-making proceedings, said Microsoft in a meeting Tuesday with Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake and bureau staff. “It is important for the Commission to be aware of these developments and to ensure that any steps it contemplates taking in this proceeding do not adversely affect these industry efforts.” Time Warner executives met with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel on set-top matters Monday, arguing against the FCC proposal. “It is feasible to increase competition and consumer choice through a regulatory regime based on content companies having a direct licensing relationship with device manufacturers, traditional distributors, and online platforms,” Time Warner said. The filings were made in docket 16-42. Pay-TV companies just made an alternate proposal for an HTML5-based unlock the box approach (see 1606160059), rather than the apps approach the industry has backed and the alternative device tack included in the agency's proposal. CEO Chip Pickering of Incompas, which is part of a coalition of tech and other interests allied with the FCC approach, called it "encouraging" that the cable industry made the proffer. "Their current proposal presents both some positive movement and some familiar limitations that could fall short of delivering an open, competitive marketplace," he said Thursday.
The FCC should take care that its efforts to stimulate third party retail set-top box competition don't interfere with ongoing video standards-making proceedings, said Microsoft in a meeting Tuesday with Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake and bureau staff. “It is important for the Commission to be aware of these developments and to ensure that any steps it contemplates taking in this proceeding do not adversely affect these industry efforts.” Time Warner executives met with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel on set-top matters Monday, arguing against the FCC proposal. “It is feasible to increase competition and consumer choice through a regulatory regime based on content companies having a direct licensing relationship with device manufacturers, traditional distributors, and online platforms,” Time Warner said. The filings were made in docket 16-42. Pay-TV companies just made an alternate proposal for an HTML5-based unlock the box approach (see 1606160059), rather than the apps approach the industry has backed and the alternative device tack included in the agency's proposal. CEO Chip Pickering of Incompas, which is part of a coalition of tech and other interests allied with the FCC approach, called it "encouraging" that the cable industry made the proffer. "Their current proposal presents both some positive movement and some familiar limitations that could fall short of delivering an open, competitive marketplace," he said Thursday.
Some pay-TV carriers and programmers offered what they say is a “third-way” compromise on rules designed to create a competitive retail set-top box market. The new proposal is an alternative to both the FCC set-top proposal and multichannel video programming distributors' preferred app system. Though the FCC released a complimentary statement, supporters of the FCC plan say the compromise plan doesn't go far enough.
Some pay-TV carriers and programmers offered what they say is a “third-way” compromise on rules designed to create a competitive retail set-top box market. The new proposal is an alternative to both the FCC set-top proposal and multichannel video programming distributors' preferred app system. Though the FCC released a complimentary statement, supporters of the FCC plan say the compromise plan doesn't go far enough.
House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., holds out hope that Congress can still advance the Senate’s Mobile Now spectrum bill (S-2555) into law despite Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., throwing up hurdles to the bill’s floor passage in the upper chamber, Walden told us Wednesday. The legislation cleared the Senate Commerce Committee in March but now faces Democratic holds on the Senate floor (see 1606070063) and lacks a House companion bill.
House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., holds out hope that Congress can still advance the Senate’s Mobile Now spectrum bill (S-2555) into law despite Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., throwing up hurdles to the bill’s floor passage in the upper chamber, Walden told us Wednesday. The legislation cleared the Senate Commerce Committee in March but now faces Democratic holds on the Senate floor (see 1606070063) and lacks a House companion bill.
DALLAS -- The FCC approach under Chairman Tom Wheeler to competition was attacked as a Telecommunications Industry Association conference was drawing to a close Wednesday. In what TIA CEO Scott Belcher billed as the only time the policy chiefs of the big three ISPs gathered on one stage simultaneously, two of those executives, from AT&T and Comcast, had harsh words for a variety of competition-related rules. And the third ISP policy chief, from Verizon, said Washington gets it wrong on some broadband customer take-up issues.
DALLAS -- The FCC approach under Chairman Tom Wheeler to competition was attacked as a Telecommunications Industry Association conference was drawing to a close Wednesday. In what TIA CEO Scott Belcher billed as the only time the policy chiefs of the big three ISPs gathered on one stage simultaneously, two of those executives, from AT&T and Comcast, had harsh words for a variety of competition-related rules. And the third ISP policy chief, from Verizon, said Washington gets it wrong on some broadband customer take-up issues.
Homework gap concerns led Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, to secure language on the topic in last year’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization law, he said Monday. He cited work with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., on this front and, speaking in the Hart building at a briefing hosted by the National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training, said the provision allows an education tech grant program to fund internet access and compels a Department of Education study on the homework gap.
Homework gap concerns led Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, to secure language on the topic in last year’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization law, he said Monday. He cited work with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., on this front and, speaking in the Hart building at a briefing hosted by the National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training, said the provision allows an education tech grant program to fund internet access and compels a Department of Education study on the homework gap.