Senate Democrats Request FCC Start Set-top Rulemaking

Several senators urged the FCC to kick off a rulemaking to ensure consumers can use whatever set-top box they choose. Ed Markey, D-Mass., led the letter, also signed by Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a presidential contender; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; and others. “We strongly encourage the Commission to ensure that this replacement technology is cheap, efficient, widely available and easy to use,” the senators said in the letter, dated Monday. “The goal of this technology should be to usher in a new wave of innovation in the set top box marketplace, giving consumers a greater number of cheaper options to buy their own set top boxes.” They request that Chairman Tom Wheeler respond by Dec. 4 with his plans.