Since last year’s momentous net neutrality decision in the Federal Communications Commission, Chairman Tom Wheeler has led the FCC to do some really great things. Here's the latest.
This week, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that you can get your cable through devices besides your company's cable box. The ruling means that instead of having to rent the box from, say, Time Warner or ATT Uverse, you will be able to add that subscription onto your Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV and Roku boxes. You still have to have a cable subscription, but the massive rental fees will be a thing of the past. What does that really mean? Well, it's going to give cable companies some competition and hopefully reduce the amount of money you have to spend every month. It's not a done deal yet, but this is the first step in what is likely inevitable as industry standards change and people are cutting the cord in droves. […]
In a press release, Massachusetts Senator Edward J. Markey said, "The FCC's new framework for innovators and companies to develop new technologies that allow consumers to access video programming without having to rent a box from their pay-TV provider is smart, fair and a long time in coming. The FCC's action will help ensure that consumers are not captive to high video box leasing fees forever."
The rules still have to be written, commented upon, and ultimately—probably—litigated by the cable companies because that's what they do. However, cable companies have to realize that their stranglehold is ending. We're watching more and more content on our phones and tablets, and getting that content from Netflix, Amazon and services like Sling.
The information and entertainment landscape has changed dramatically in a very short time and dinosaur cable companies are going to have to keep up and adapt. Here's the FCC trying to force that change, and good for it.