by Jason Snell
Could the FCC open up TV to Internet competition?
Nilay Patel at The Verge:
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler just proposed a rule change that would require cable and broadcast networks to sell their programming to any company that wants to be a TV provider, not just cable or satellite companies. That means Apple could set up an internet TV service and get all the channels it needs to actually replace your cable box — not just a handful of streaming deals like it has now, but a full-on TV package.
There’s a long way to go before a proposed FCC rule change could become reality. But this proposal actually recognizes the reality of today’s broadband world: There’s no reason that the business of redistributing television channels should be limited to traditional cable and satellite TV providers. And it might help stimulate the growth of broadband. Here’s hoping.