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The Honorable Thomas Wheeler 
Chairman 
federal Communications Commission 
445 - 12th Street, SW 
Washington, D.C. 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
May 18, 2016 
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPO RE 
COMMITTEES: 
FINANCE 
CHAIRMAN 
JUDICIARY 
HEALTH, EDUCATION. 
LABOR, AND PENSIONS 
AGING 
JOINT COMMITIEE 
ON TAXATION 
I write concerning the FCC's proposed set-top box rules, which would require cable and 
satellite providers to make television programming streams available to third parties. As the 
former chairman and senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I am particularly 
concerned that the proposed rules could upend carefully negotiated licensing agreements 
between multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and content providers. 
Technological advancements have provided consumers with almost limitless options to 
watch pay-for content on an array of smart TVs and other devices. Streaming technologies have 
freed consumers from costly and cumbersome set-top boxes. To date, the fast-growing streaming 
market has forced cable and other video providers to be more nimble and competitive­
unleashing greater innovation and consumer choice. 
Unfortunately, many believe that if something is on the Internet it must be free. 
Producing and distributing video content, however, is not only costly-it also requires a legal 
framework to license that content. Approaches that ignore the need for licensing or undercut 
existing licensing agreements will likely increase costs for consumers, reduce choices, and 
discourage innovation. 
While you have repeatedly said that copyright law will not be impacted by the proposal, 
the terms of the licensing agreements between MVPDs and programmers are the key mechanism 
for protecting the copyrights of content owners, and these are the very terms that third-party 
devices and apps will be permitted to disregard under the FCC's proposal. 
PRINrEO ON RfCYCLEO PAPER 
397
I appreciate your February 18, 2016, statement that the proposal "will not interfere with 
the business relationships or content agreements between MVPDs and their content providers" 
and "will not open up content to compromised security." I support those objectives and request 
all relevant information that will provide a clearer understanding of exactly how the proposed 
rules will ensure those objectives are met. 
Orrin G. Hatch 
United States Senator 
cc: Commissioner Ajit Pai 
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn 
Commissioner Michael O'Rielly 
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel