Loading ...The FCC is in the process of reviewing multiple documents regarding whether or not to permit cable companies to encrypt their basic programming. Cable giants such as Comcast and Time Warner are lobbying for the FCC to change the policy since digital boxes could be serviced remotely, which they say would reduce costs.
Internet streaming set-top box companies such as Boxee, however, disagree. Avner Ronen, the company’s CEO, spoke with WebProNews and said consumers and competition would be hurt if the FCC removes the restriction.
He told us that, over the past year, the number of subscribers to cable companies is either flat or declining. As a result, he believes the companies are trying to boost their revenue by asking subscribers to pay a monthly rental fee for their set-top boxes.
Ronen also pointed out that cable companies are trying to block innovations like Boxee from competing in the market.
The FCC is currently weighing both sides of the dispute, but there is no word on when a decision could be reached.
Is Boxee right, or do you think the cable companies have a point? We’d love to know.
I could see one box for every tv in the house, but how to do tell the dvr to play one thing on one tv and another thing on another? You would have to upgrade to a tv that could communicate with the cable box over it’s coaxial connection to where ever it’s located in the house. So I have no problem with cable companies wanting to encrypt so that people can’t steal basic cable right off the line. But I do see the point that if you have 3 tv’s that you shouldn’t have to pay for 3 boxes to rent every month. I just see a problem with the dvr part of having just 1 box being that tv’s can’t communicate with the boxes other than to grab whatever signal is being transmitted over it.
I pay to have cable in my house, just like I pay to have electricity and water in my house. The utility companies don’t charge for each faucet or electrical outlet I use. Why are we allowing cable companies to charge us for each cable outlet we use?
They are requiring us to rent their boxes to access the service we’re paying for. They said the boxes would prevent piracy, which was costing them money. Now that we have boxes they’ve raised their rates despite the supposed savings.
Don’t deregulate the cable companies any further. They already have too much control.