FCC Considers Breaking Cable's Grip Over Set-Top TV Control Box

The Federal Communications Commission is considering breaking the grip cable and satellite-TV companies have over the set-top box which costs TV viewers an estimated $232 per household each year.

Supporters of the idea say competition would lower costs and improve functionality of the devices -- like combining subscription channels with Web streaming services such as Netflix Inc. into one remote control. The cable industry, already reeling from the loss of subscribers to “cord cutters” who get their video over the Internet, is fighting the move. It makes an estimated $19.5 billion a year renting the boxes and mines them for valuable data on viewing habits. Consumers right now have little choice, with about 99 percent of cable and satellite TV customers renting set-top boxes directly from the companies.