Coalition of major broadcasters, cable networks, movie studios, r...

BMI, CBS, ESPN, Fox, Minor League Baseball, MPAA, NBC and RIAA argued that “cable interface devices must include the capability to protect certain high-value content against unauthorized copy and Internet retransmission” because of “the economics of producing and distributing high-value programming.” Responding to letter by House Telecom Subcommittee member Boucher (D-Va.) to Kennard last month, group also contended that advanced digital set-tops must be capable of providing some level of content protection “so consumers that purchase such devices will be able to receive the widest variety of program choices, including high-value programs that may be made available only if content protections are in place.” It said “alternative is to introduce devices in the marketplace that cannot provide content protection, and therefore cannot receive certain types of high-value programming.” Content owners also disputed Boucher’s contention that “freely broadcast programming should remain freely copyable,” contending that local broadcasters would be relegated to “the position of ‘low-value’ content distributors.” They questioned whether there was any public interest “in allowing consumers to make multiple copies of broadcast programming, or to retransmit broadcast programs over the Internet.”