FCC Unveils New Apps-Based Approach In Set-Top Box Proceeding

In a marked shift from its initial proposal, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced on September 8 that later this month the FCC would be considering new rules to require cable operators to create apps that could be used on competitive television set-top boxes, permitting customers to purchase their own boxes and avoid renting from their cable and satellite TV companies.

The FCC's original proposal, released in February, would have required (1) cable operators and other multi-channel video programming distributors ("MVPDs") to make various data flows available to providers of competitive equipment (including information about the programming available to the customer, information about how the customer can use the content provided by the MVPD, and the content itself); (2) MVPDs to support content protection systems developed by third party organizations; and (3) competitive equipment providers to comply with various FCC requirements for public safety, privacy, and