In Responses to Hill, FCC Chief Says DSTAC Used Transparent Process

The FCC Downloadable Security Technical Advisory Committee, which has faced some legislator and pay-TV industry scrutiny, undertook a transparent process, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler wrote legislators who inquired about DSTAC. In letters posted online Wednesday and now unavailable on the FCC website because of the partial IT shutdown, he addressed criticism of the committee for going beyond the law that required the agency to form it. Wheeler said he asked DSTAC to include in its report how to meet the obligations of Communications Act Section 629 and Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization Act Section 106, which directed the commission to form the group. He also responded to the worries of Reps. Gene Green, D-Texas, and Bob Latta, R-Ohio, that the body was going beyond its mandate (see 1506190057). The group contained "representatives of all parties in interest," Wheeler wrote. Its meetings were public and any nonmember could comment at the gatherings, and it was "an open and transparent process," he said in letters to Green and Latta dated Aug. 11. He also wrote similarly that day to Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., who had said consumers want an alternative to renting set-top boxes from cable operators. Green and Latta had feared the committee wouldn't stick to security issues and would instead pursue what's known as AllVid, which could allow a sort of video device portability among competing pay-TV providers. Since the letters were exchanged, DSTAC completed its report (see 1508280035).