Commissioner Rosenworcel: FCC Needs ‘Another Way Forward’ on Set-Tops

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel of the Federal Communications Commission is optimistic that the FCC and industry can find a way forward on set-tops to promote a competitive marketplace in navigation devices but signals that the problems have become clear, as has the need for more work on the proposal. That proposal is to require multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs, or pay-TV) to make their program and data streams available to third-party devices and app developers to promote competitive alternatives, including wedding traditional and over-the-top content. "Set-top boxes are clunky and costly," Rosenworcel said. "Consumers don't like them and they don't like paying for them," she added. "Kudos to the chairman for kicking off this conversation [Rosenworcel voted along with Wheeler and Democrat Mignon Clyburn to kick off that conversation], but it has become clear the original proposal has real flaws and, as I have suggested before, is too complicated. We need to find another way forward."