February 16, 2016 m. ~. J!)ou~t of l\tprt~tntattbt~ ma~btngton, 1!\. ~. 20515 The Honorable Tom Wheeler, Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 Twelfth Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 Dear Chairman Wheeler, . eo & \nspected ~ece\'IJ FEB 2 2 201n FCC Mail Room We write to you today regarding the Commission's review of the set-top box market and the future of the video marketplace. As champions for giving consumers an alternative to renting a set-top box from their pay-TV provider each month, we believe the Commission must preserve competitive choice as required under Section 629 of the Communications Act. Because of the lack of competition in the set-top box space, consumers today are paying on average a whopping $231 per year on rental fees alone. First and foremost, injecting new competition into the marketplace will save consumers money and pave the way for innovative retail alternatives to set-top boxes leased by pay-TV providers. These rental costs present an even higher burden for so many in minority communities. In 2014, as part of the STELA Reauthorization Act (STELAR), Section 106 set in motion a repeal of the integration ban and with it, the establishment of a stakeholder working group aimed at finding a successor solution. The carefully crafted compromise which resulted in the creation ofthe Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee (DSTAC), delayed repeal ofthe ban by one year and preserved the obligation to promote the competitive availability of set-top boxes under Section 629. As the Commission prepares to vote on the proposal you circulated on January 27th, we urge you to ensure that the agency maintains its statutory obligation to give consumers an alternative to . having to rent a set-top box from their pay-TV provider every month. We believe this goal can and should be achieved without reverting to the "AllVid" proposal included in the 2010 National Broadband Plan. We also understand that some have suggested that Commission action would threaten diverse programming and harm minority voices. We believe competitive alternatives to the rented set­ top box will in fact enhance opportunities for independent programmers to reach consumers by improving search functionality and user interfaces. Finally, while we agree that apps offer consumers another option for watching video programming, they may not necessarily provide the same features and functionality that are available through a pay-TV provider's leased set-top box. We believe the recommendations Page 2 of3 contained in the DSTAC report are intended to ensure consumers have the broadest array of competitive options which may include, but should not be limited to apps. Ultimately a level playing field will enable competitors to innovate and give consumers the power to choose how to best access their favorite video programming. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to advance a solution that promotes greater competition, consumer choice and innovation. Sincerely, Member of Congress 1Qtħ:~'d~ Member of Congress Member of Congress Lout ughter Member of Congress ----·-· Member of Congress au .......:.. Grijalva Member of Congress Member of Congress Ruben Hinojosa Member of Congress QvR4/2-- Chellie Pingree Member of Congress Mike Thompson Member of Congress cc: The Honorable Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner · The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner The Honorable Ajit Pai, Commissioner The Honorable Michael O'Rielly, Commissioner Page 3 of3