Public Interest Groups Ask FCC To Move Forward With DSTAC Recommendation

The FCC should move forward with the competitive navigation recommendation from the FCC Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee, seven public interest groups said in a letter to Chairman Tom Wheeler Tuesday. Viewers who can more easily access online and cable programming on the same device would be easier for programmers to reach without going through pay-TV carriers, said the letter from Common Cause, Demand Progress, Free Press, Fight for the Future, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, New America’s Open Technology Institute and Public Knowledge. PK had representatives on the DSTAC and is part of the Consumer Video Choice Coalition, the organization of entities backing the competitive navigation recommendation. Along with opening up paths to consumers for programmers, a more competitive set-top box market would make it harder for pay-TV companies to ”price-gouge” consumers, the letter said. “What Americans need now is for the FCC to help create ways to bypass the cable gatekeeper -- not for it to allow cable to continue strengthening its grip.”