NCTA pushed back against TiVo in the battle...

NCTA pushed back against TiVo in the battle over the set-top box integration ban and Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization. NCTA CEO Michael Powell sent a letter Thursday to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., who are crafting their own STELA reauthorization bill to be considered in September. The House has included in its reauthorization bill (HR-4572), passed in July (CD July 23 p1), a provision that would repeal the integration ban. The integration ban rule “currently forces cable operators -- and cable operators alone -- to include a CableCard in all leased set top boxes even though this separate security module is completely unnecessary,” Powell said. He slammed “old arguments” and “spurious claims” that TiVo CEO Tom Rogers made in a letter to Senate Commerce leaders sent last week, the same day the House passed its STELA reauthorization bill. TiVo strongly opposes the repeal of the integration ban. Senate Commerce should include the House provision, which is narrow and focused and has bipartisan backers, Powell insisted. TiVo General Counsel Matt Zinn fired back in a lengthy statement. “Once again, NCTA twists the facts to suit its own narrative to continue to undermine the competitive retail environment,” Zinn declared. “TiVo remains confident that the Senate will recognize the damage that will be done to consumer choice and competition if the House language is allowed to become law.” Congress has no reason to intervene in this space of the market, which is moving forward as intended, he said. “If NCTA truly believes that ending the integration ban would save consumers money, why then in testimony before a House committee did Michael Powell say point-blank that consumers would not see any savings?"