Judiciary and E&C Committee Leaders Urge FCC to Release Text of Set-Top Box Proposal

Conyers, Goodlatte, Upton, & Walden Push For FCC Transparency

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), today sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler regarding the agency’s set-top box proposal.

 

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

The committee leaders write, “While much remains unknown, what is clear at this point is that the proposal would benefit from public process. … Absent a public vetting of the Commission’s proposal it is unclear what the Commission is planning, let alone its impact. Without further delay, we request that you release the text of your proposal. The proposal raises issues of significance to both our Committees, and we believe the Commission should release text in order to allow all stakeholders to meaningfully discuss the implications of the proposal.”

“We remain concerned that the FCC’s op-ed in the LA Times, as well as the fact sheet raise new questions rather than resolve questions posed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,” added Upton and Walden. "Unfortunately, this behavior is not new and this aversion to transparency has come to define the FCC.”

House Judiciary Letter To FCC on Set Top Box Letter 9.16.16 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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CONYERS, GOODLATTE Raise Copyright Concerns with FCC’s Set-Top Box Proposal

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) released the following statement regarding copyright concerns with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) set-top box proposal.

Dean of the U.S, House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“Regardless of whether one supports or opposes the FCC’s efforts to create set-top box alternatives, we have very serious concerns that this should not be accomplished through a compulsory copyright licensing process that may well exceed the FCC’s jurisdiction. The proposed text of the FCC’s revised set-top box proposal has not been given to Congress, but published reports indicate that the FCC is considering a licensing body to develop a one-size fits all standard apps license.  There are many unresolved questions about this proposal, not the least of which is the fundamental question of whether the FCC even has the authority to create such a regime.  We are also concerned that this proposal encroaches upon the Judiciary Committee’s copyright jurisdiction, and may not adequately protect creators’ rights and the contractual rights of parties.  We will be conducting oversight over this matter in the weeks and months to come.”

Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers also joined Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) in sending a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler requesting that he release the text of the set-top box proposal in order to allow all stakeholders time to examine and discuss the implications of his proposal.

Goodlatte and Conyers Raise Copyright Concerns with FCC’s Set-Top Box Proposal Letter by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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