Upcoming FCC Vote Might Determine Streaming Services as “Effective Competition” to Cable TV

Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Ajit Pai announced that the FCC will vote to determine whether or not streaming services such as AT&T TV are “effective competition” to companies like Charter and Comcast.

In a statement posted on the FCC blog, Pai stated, “Charter has asked the Commission to find that it is subject to effective competition in the Hawaii and Massachusetts communities that it serves. Specifically, it points to the over-the-top streaming service offered throughout the country by AT&T, which provides video programming bundles comparable to those provided by cable operators,” the blog post read.

“In three weeks, the Commission will vote on an order that would agree Charter is now subject to effective competition from AT&T’s streaming service. Adopting this order would be a major step toward the Commission recognizing the realities of the modern video marketplace, and the increasingly important role that streaming services are playing in it. “

The vote, which is slated to take place at the FCC’s meeting on Oct. 25, would see cable TV companies deregulated in areas such as Hawaii and parts of Massachusetts that have limited competition. If the rule passes, live TV streaming services will also be considered as direct competition to cable TV companies by the FCC.