Public Knowledge: “unlock the box”

The FCC’s proposal to “unlock the box” would stop cable companies from forcing their customers to pay rental fees for set-top boxes, which average $231 per household per year. Instead, cable companies would be required to also support third-party devices, such as TiVo and Roku. The proposal has received ample support from the public, device makers, independent and minority  programmers,  civil rights groups, copyright experts, content creators, members of Congress, and President Obama. But members of Congress supported by the cable industry snuck in an unnecessary rider to a must-pass government funding bill that will require the FCC to conduct additional studies on the proposal. This is simply a delay tactic from incumbents who want to maintain their stranglehold on the market. Congress instructed the FCC to reform the video marketplace 20 years ago, and the FCC has been working hard to do so. After multiple rounds of public comments on the proposal, the Commissioners are thoroughly examining and addressing the concerns of all stakeholders, and are preparing to move forward with a solution. Consumers will pay at least $1.6 billion per month while we wait on unnecessary delays by Congress--and we've been keeping track of every second we wait.  Click here to contact key Senators and your representatives in Congress to tell them to put a stop to this rider and eliminate the language in the Appropriations bill that will delay #UnlockTheBox. Let them know you are ready for choice and competition in the video marketplace, without delay. The necessary processes have been completed, and it’s time for the FCC to #UnlockTheBox.  Tweet this: Tell Congress it's time to let the #FCC do its job and #UnlockTheBox, *without delay*: https://goo.gl/sb9Tmn Thanks, Public Knowledge www.publicknowledge.org