WTA Advocates for Premanent Exemption for Small MVPDs from New Set-Top Box Rules

This week, WTA met with staff of Commissioners Rosenworcel and O’Rielly urging the Commission to adopt a permanent exemption from any new rules developed in the ongoing set-top box proceeding. WTA noted that requiring compliance by small MVPDs with either the “Information Flows” contained in the NPRM or “Apps Approach” proposed by large cable providers would be unduly burdensome in light of the financial squeeze stemming from increasing programming costs and will force some small MVPDs to cease providing video services to their rural consumers. Providing an exemption for small providers will permit innovation and prevent the diversion of resources from broadband infrastructure deployment that is critically needed in rural areas.