FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
O FFICE O F 
T H E CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee 
U.S. House of Representatives 
2160 Rayburn House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congresswoman Jackson Lee: 
February 19, 2016 
Thank you for your letter concerning issues relating to Section 629 of the 
Communications Act. Your views are very important and will be considered as part of the 
Commission's review. 
I share your admiration for today's television landscape. There is an abundance ofrich 
content and new technology. As you point out, technology is paving the way for software and 
apps to help consumers. Consumers deserve a variety of choices to view the programming they 
want, when they want and on the device they want. More choices often drive down consumer 
costs and drive up innovation. 
The Commission has a statutory obligation under Section 629 of the Communications 
Act to assure the commercial availability of navigation devices to consumers from sources other 
than their traditional video programming providers, like cable, satellite, or telecommunications 
providers. Section 629 of the Communications Act is explicit: "The Commission shall ... adopt 
regulations to assure the commercial availability, to consumers of multichannel video 
programming ... of converter boxes, interactive communications equipment, and other 
equipment. .. from manufacturers, retailers, and other vendors not affiliated with any 
multichannel video program distributor [emphasis added] ." Section 629(b) further provides that 
such alternatives must be secure. The issue before the Commission is how to obey Section 629 in 
a world of evolving technology. The lack of choice that consumers have today for set top boxes 
would appear to be the opposite of the choice inherent in an "app TV" future and contrary to the 
statutory mandate. 
I understand there has been some misinformation that the Commission is currently 
considering the so called "All-Yid" approach to meeting our obligations under Section 629. I 
understand your concerns around this approach and can assure you that All-Yid, a 2010 proposal 
that consumers obtain a separate, additional device in order to access video programming, is not 
under consideration by the Commission. At the February 18111 Commission meeting, we issued a 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) to comply with the statutory requirement of 
competitive choice for consumers. 
Page 2-The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee 
Like all NPRMs, this action opens a fact-finding dialog to build a record upon which to 
base any final decision. 
In order that commenters can avoid wasting time on subjects not under consideration, the 
NPRM proposed a specific approach to fulfilling the statutory mandate. The new proposed rules 
would create a framework for providing device manufacturers, software developers and others 
the information they need to introduce innovative new technologies, while at the same time 
maintaining strong security, copyright and consumer protections. Nothing in this proposal 
changes a company's ability to package and price its programming to its subscribers, or requires 
consumers to purchase new boxes. 
I also share your goals that public safety and access to minority programming not be 
adversely affected. The proposal under consideration includes the critical capabilities to receive 
emergency alerts, protect privacy and abide by copyright rules . Further, competition in 
interfaces, search functions, and integration of programming sources can lead customers to have 
greater ability to access minority and special interest programming. This is about rising increased 
access and choice to the top of the pile, not the bottom. 
As we continue to explore fulfilling the statutory mandate I look forward to continuing to 
work with you. I can assure you that we are in complete agreement about reducing consumer 
costs, lowering energy consumption. encouraging innovative programming, and protecting 
privacy, public safety and children. 
Sincere!~? 
~eel er