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Congressman Collins Statement on FCC Vote To Regulate TV Set-Top Boxes

Statement

Date: Feb. 18, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Technology and Communication Business and Consumers

Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to allow third-party set-top box makers insert their own advertising into pay-TV content, and undermine programming agreements between programmers and pay-TV companies. Congressman Collins issued the following statement after the vote:

"Although the FCC's proposed rule to require cable and satellite providers to give alternative device makers access to their programming seems like a pro-consumer action, it raises a multitude of questions about the impact on creators and independent, minority, and religious programmers. Government regulation should only exist in areas where the market has failed to act, but today, technological development is at an all-time high and consumers have more choice now than ever before. I urge the FCC to proceed with caution and collaborate with stakeholders and Congress before moving any further on this proposal. The FCC's vote this afternoon is not the end of the discussion and I look forward to the FCC's response to the letter my colleagues and I sent earlier this week outlining our concerns."


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