NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: April 21, 2010 Janice Wise (202) 418-8165 Email: janice.wise@fcc.gov FCC TAKES ACTION TO UNLEASH VIDEO INNOVATION AND CONSUMER CHOICE Washington, D.C.: The Federal Communications Commission acted today to promote innovation and consumer choice in the video device marketplace by issuing a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) and a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), as recommended in the National Broadband Plan. The NOI seeks to better serve the goals of Congress in creating a competitive retail market for navigation devices for use with multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD). The FNPRM proposes changes to the current CableCard system to make it more consumer-friendly while a new technology approach is being developed. Consumers are increasingly accessing video from multiple sources, including MVPD services, the Internet, DVDs, and over-the-air broadcasting. The NOI seeks input on ways to foster a more competitive marketplace for navigation devices and in particular calls for comment on a standardized interface that enables smart video devices to bring video from all of these sources together for ease of selection, recording, and viewing. The standardized interface could be implemented through an “AllVid” adapter that would act as an intermediary between the consumer’s device and the MVPD’s service. The service provider would be free to innovate within its network to improve its services, without requiring replacement of the consumer’s home devices. And a consumer could switch from one provider to another and continue to use the same smart video devices. The FNPRM proposes to remedy shortcomings in the existing CableCARD system, to provide consumers with better service in the interim before the new AllVid approach is in place. In order to remove the disparity between consumers who choose to use a retail CableCARD- equipped video device and those who lease a cable provider’s video navigation box, the proposed interim measures would: (1) ensure that retail devices have comparable access to video programming that is prescheduled by the programming provider; (2) make CableCARD pricing and billing more transparent; (3) streamline CableCARD installations; and (4) clarify certification requirements. Action by the Commission: Chairman Genachowski and Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker issuing separate statements. April 21, 2010, by Notice of Inquiry (FCC 10-60). MB Docket No. 10-91; CS Docket No. 97-80; PP Docket No. 00-67. Action by the Commission: Chairman Genachowski and Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker issuing separate statements. April 21, 2010, by Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 10-61). CS Docket No. 97-80; PP Docket No. 00-67. For further information, Brendan Murray (202-418-1573; brendan.murray@fcc.gov); or Alison Neplokh (202-418-1083; alison.neplokh@fcc.gov). -FCC-