FCC changes

[Mugwump]

Ninety-nine percent of pay-tv subscribers are chained to their set-top boxes because cable and satellite operators have locked up the market. Lack of competition has meant few choices and high prices for consumers ? on average, $231 in rental fees annually for the average American household. Altogether, U.S. consumers spend $20 billion a year to lease these devices. Today, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler?s is proposing a way to tear down the barriers that currently prevent innovators from developing new ways for consumers to access and enjoy their favorite shows and movies on their terms.

FCC proposes new rules permitting you to bring your own TV set top box to Cable/Satellite TV. Reminiscent of being able to supply your own telephone for POTS with AT&T in 1980s. It will happen - and cable companies will fight it. Spoiler alert for attempts to use DMCA to protect encryption into set top boxes. My DirecTV bill includes $42.49 / month to rent set top boxes. I can pay for a whole bunch of Amazon Fire devices for that and stream all the Netflix I want. End game will be that "cable" TV as we know it will disappear, replaced with Internet delivery of everything. It will take ... 5 years? Look for home broadband data rates to grow and redundant internet connections to houses to become more mainstream.

"Over the past 20 years, the cost of cable set-top boxes has risen 185% while the cost of computers, televisions and mobile phones has dropped by 90%"..
Consumer advocates cheered the move...

[GeorgeG]

That cost is why I dumped Satellite years ago and have not had cable T.V since the 80'S Rabbit ears are enought for my and my Amazon Fire T.V