FCC wants more competition with set-top boxes

The Federal Communications Commission is considering ways to enable access to the Internet through set-top boxes for television sets. Media Bureau Chief William Lake said, "It's time ... to consider if there are better ways to open the set-top box market to greater competition and innovation." One of the options the FCC is considering is to require cable and broadband providers such as Comcast Corp, AT&T Inc and Verizon Communications Inc to supply a small, low-cost, network-interface device that would act as a bridge for an Internet modem and cable boxes. When asked by FCC Commissioner Michael Copps how much new technology would be involved in manufacturing new bridge boxes, Lake said that manufacturers would likely add little new technology. "Many of the standards in place already exist, it would take commission action to drive the effort," he said. Cable subscribers normally lease set-top boxes to access videos, but FCC officials believe it is basically a "one-way" street that does not allow customers to do more such as accessing the Internet.