Groups Ask FCC To Deny 'Special Favor' That Would Let Hollywood Control Consumer TVs

Thirteen public interest groups said the Federal Communications Commission should not respond to the "whims of industry" and grant the motion picture lobby the ability to control how consumers use their television sets and set-top boxes. As many as 20 million TV sets could be affected. According to the letter, the Commission's Media Bureau is poised to grant a waiver requested by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for what is called "selectable output control" that would shut down the types of devices consumers could plug into their TV sets. The MPAA has asked for a special waiver to existing FCC rules so that it can offer movies to consumers, while shutting down the output ports at the back of set-top devices through which equipment like TiVo or Sling Boxes can be connected.