Cord-cutters, rejoice! On Friday, Obama is set to announce his personal support for a pending Federal Communications Commission proposal that would open up the market for cable set-top boxes to increase industry competition and to give subscribers the option of leasing — or buying — elsewhere. Currently, most TV subscribers are stuck leasing their boxes from their cable providers, which can cost more than $200 a year, on average.
Alongside announcing his personal support for the FCC proposal, Obama also plans to sign an executive order requesting that all federal agencies send proposals for how to better protect consumers and increase competition in various industries. While companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple are thrilled with Obama's initiatives, The New York Times reports the cable industry is calling it a "giveaway to wealthy tech companies" and claims it could further inflate prices.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.