A recent article in Variety Magazine, “FCC Chairman Says Set-Top Box Proposal Will Boost TV Innovation” discusses FCC chairman Tom Wheeler’s reaction to a pending proposal from the FCC to improve competition in the cable box market. Rather than forcing consumers to rent cable boxes directly from their cable provider, the proposal would allow competitors to create and sell set-top boxes. This would allow for a simplified user experience, reduce the need for multiple devices for media consumption and let viewers choose features that are meaningful to them rather than supplement their cable boxes with additional devices. The article presents Wheeler’s opinions on the importance of the upcoming FCC proposal of open standards for cable TV set-top boxes. Wheeler strongly supports the idea of an open platform for set-top boxes. He cites flexibility as …show more content…
Therefore, to remain relevant and competitive, I feel that the industry should change accordingly. Wheeler’s views support my opinions and seem logical and relevant to me. I was intrigued by Wheeler’s view that cable should be a standard comparable to Wi-Fi and function across devices. The idea that consumers should be able to purchase a single device that allows access to multiple services strikes me as useful and necessary, both from a cost standpoint and a practical view. I currently have a FIOS cable box to watch television, a Blu-Ray player to view Amazon video, and a Smart TV to watch Netflix. I have paid for all of these services, and I should have the right to watch everything in one place if I choose to, rather than shuffling between devices and remotes. I would be excited to have the ability to purchase a single device to manage my viewing in a unified and consistent