Wheeler Planning CableCARD Successor Working Group, He Tells Markey
The FCC soon will convene a working group to set up a successor standard in light of Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization legislation which is to repeal the set-top box integration ban in a year. Both chambers of…
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Congress passed STELA reauthorization last week (see 1411210036">1411210036). "Recognizing the near-term enactment of STELAR [the STELA Reauthorization Act], I plan to direct the Commission staff to establish the Working Group as quickly as possible, consistent with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act," Wheeler told Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., in a letter Monday. "Once established, the Commission will provide assistance to the Working Group to promote as best we can a successful outcome of its collaboration and, upon receiving its report, will assess quickly the best path forward for implementing a new standard." The legislation included a provision telling the FCC to form such a working group. Wheeler praised Markey's "long-standing leadership" on the issue. Markey and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., had initially opposed STELA reauthorization that included the integration ban repeal. “We appreciate Chairman Wheeler’s commitment to moving as quickly as possible to put in place a new standard in light of the upcoming repeal of the existing integration ban rule," they said in a joint statement Monday. "We believe we need to protect competition and choice in the set top box marketplace. Consumers should not have to pay high monthly fees to lease cable boxes forever." The legislation is awaiting President Barack Obama's signature.