CVCC Downloadable Security Proposal Doesn't Involve Second Box, PK Says

The Consumer Video Choice Coalition-backed downloadable security proposal doesn’t require a “second box” along with a set-top box, despite what pay-TV carriers have said, Public Knowledge told FCC Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake, Chairman Tom Wheeler’s aide Gigi Sohn, and Media Bureau staff in a meeting Wednesday, according to an ex parte filing in docket 15-64. Depending on how multichannel video programming distributors “choose to implement support, customers could require no consumer premises equipment beyond a smart television or a cable modem, which is already required for broadband,” PK said. Pay-TV carriers are also incorrect in portraying the proposal as a “technology mandate,” PK said. “Since the competitive navigation proposal does not mandate any form of common reliance, MVPDs would have to change nothing about their proprietary set-top boxes and nothing would change for consumers who are not interested in purchasing competitive devices.” Third-party devices wouldn’t endanger MVPD licensing agreements, PK said. “Under the competitive navigation proposal, MVPDs would remain as free as ever to design boxes and interfaces however they like and to enter into whatever content agreements seem appropriate.”