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Consumers can
spend nearly $1,000 over four years for renting cable set top
boxes. Opening the business to competition and allowing
consumers to chose devices or apps they can own could mean quick
savings, an official said.
"You could have a set a standards such that anyone could connect
any box to their cable and those boxes could compete for lower
prices and greater innovation," Jason Furman, the chairman of
the Council of Economic Advisers told reporters in a
teleconference.
The Federal Communications Commission, an independent agency, in
February proposed a rule opening competition in the $20 billion
television set-top box market. It set a 60 day comment period on
the rule that could cost major cable companies.
The rule would allow consumers to obtain video services from
providers such as Alphabet Inc, Apple Inc and Tivo, instead of
cable, satellite and other television providers such Comcast
Corp and Verizon Communications.
It is unclear if the rule will be implemented before Obama
leaves office next January. Cable and television companies have
lashed out against the proposal saying it could stifle
innovation.
The administration entered the debate through a rare filing into
the FCC's comment period. "When the President personally gets
involved is when it's of real great importance, in his mind, to
consumers, to competition, and to the economy more broadly,"
Furman said.
Obama will also sign an executive order on Friday calling on
federal agencies and departments to report in 60 days on
specific areas where additional measures can be taken to open
competition.
Furman would not venture a guess on what kind of pro competition
measures that order could spur. The administration is looking to
add to actions it has already taken for consumers on cell
phones, net neutrality and retirement advice.
“This is going to be a whole of government effort to empower
consumers, workers and small businesses,” Furman said.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Michael Perry)
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