FCC to Propose Overhauling Rules on Set-Top Boxes

Federal regulators soon are expected to propose overhauling rules for television set-top boxes, a move aimed at lowering bills for cable viewers and providing more access to Internet-based programming.

The proposal by Tom Wheeler, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, likely would involve giving cable and satellite customers more choice in whether to use their service provider’s set-top box and cable app, or instead choose competing devices and apps, according to consumer advocates pushing for the change. That could open more of the market to alternative set-top-box providers, such as TiVo and Google. Cable and media companies, which face a potential loss of billions of dollars in rental fees for set-top boxes, say it could upend the way the channel positioning they have carefully negotiated, providing certain programmers premium spots in their lineup in exchange for higher payments.