Comcast Continues To Claim It's 'Not Feasible' To Offer Its Programming To Third-Party Cable Boxes

We've been talking a lot about how the FCC is pushing a new plan that would force cable providers to provide their programming to third-party hardware vendors. The idea is to put an end to the $21 billion in annual rental fees consumers have to pay for often outdated cable boxes and create some competition in the cable box space, resulting in better, cheaper hardware for everyone. Given it's a hugely profitable monopoly and third-party boxes would be more likely to direct users to competing services, the cable industry has shelled out big bucks for misleading editorials and high test Congressional whining.

Comcast's other, ingenious solution to the FCC's plan? Try and claim that it's not technically possible for Comcast to offer its programming to third-party cable box makers without including all of Comcast's code (and advertising tracking software):

"Comcast says it told the FCC its Xfinity apps "include software code that manages requests for programming and communications between the box/app and where the programming is cached on the network to ensure the programming is delivered, and done so efficiently." Comcast added that "this network code minimizes the risks of degradation to the service due to bandwidth shortages and congestion, and also enables Comcast to support rapidly evolving entertainment technologies, such as accessibility features and advanced video technologies."

The problem? The FCC says that this is total bullshit, and we're really just talking about providing a few simple APIs:

"A senior FCC official who also spoke to Ars on background disputed Comcast's arguments.

The FCC is aware that TV systems can be either one-way or two-way and that modern systems use IP technology, the official said. TV providers with IP-based systems can comply with the proposed rules by providing an API that allows third parties to request and receive video and related information according to the FCC. The API doesn't need access to every feature in Comcast's cable system-it just needs to know what a customer subscribes to and the other information required by the FCC's proposed rules.

In short, Comcast wants to retain control over viewer metrics and advertising, so it's pretending it's technically impossible to simply provide the content and a basic schedule of broadcasts ("Sorry! we tried to compete, didn't work out!"). That's why Comcast, alongside with other cable providers, has been pushing an "app-based compromise" to the FCC's plan. But as we recently noted, that plan comes with a few huge caveats -- namely that you'd still have to pay your cable provider for a cable box if you want to do fundamental things like record a program via DVR.

Unfortunately, the cable industry's lobbying efforts appear to be working, resulting in some of the Commissioners that voted yes on the plan (Jessica Rosenworcel, Mignon Clyburn) suddenly waffling on the idea. It's certainly not the end of the world if the FCC's plan fails, given the cable box is likely doomed anyway and the FCC could spend these calories focusing on the real lynch pin in the streaming video future: broadband competition. Still, it was nice to dream briefly of a world in which consumers didn't have to pay $231 more every year (on average) just to suffer at the hands of clunky, poorly-designed, locked down cable hardware.

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