FCC Chairman Wheeler Gets Support From Trent Lott On Set-Top Proposal

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has faced a great deal of pushback from the cable industry over a proposal that would "unlock" the cable set-top box and make it easier for outside companies to enter the living room.

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) has entered the fray, co-writing a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece (subscription required) in support of Wheeler's plan:

The perseverance of the set-top-box monopoly has been frustrating to watch. Prices for leased set-top boxes have risen 185% since 1994, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Meanwhile, the costs of televisions, phones and computers in competitive markets have fallen by 90%. The divergence is because some 99% of pay-TV customers are still forced by cable companies to rent the appliance.

If you wonder why this issue matters to Lott and co-author (and former Senator) John Breaux, it's important to note that the two men manage the lobbying arm of multinational law firm Squire Patton Boggs. That firm's list of clients is closely held, but does apparently include several of the orgnizations in favor of Wheeler's plan, including Amazon and the National Association Of Broadcasters.