“The proposal, like prior federal government technology mandates, would impose costs on consumers, adversely impact the creation of high-quality content, and chill innovation. It also flies in the face of the rapid changes that are occurring in the marketplace and benefitting consumers.”
“By forcing new government mandates on network providers and content creators, the FCC may intend to reward Google handsomely, but in the process it will ignore contractual freedoms, weaken content diversity and security, undermine important consumer protections like privacy, and stall the creative and technical innovation that is driving positive changes in today’s TV marketplace. Despite these significant shortcomings, it looks like the FCC is attempting to move forward with a technology mandate that would replace app innovation with government regulation.”
Excerpts from the respective comments of Comcast and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association regarding FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposed new rules forcing pay-TV companies to give third parties access to content by allowing consumers to watch on different devices and bring competition to the set-top box market.