Satellite TV Free From U.S. Rules on Cable Set-Top Boxes - DISH, TWC & CMCSA

Northern, WI 1/17/2013 (avauncer) - Dish Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH) Pay television providers are free from U.S. regulations which block usage of techniques to prevent illegal copying of programs. This decision came across in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (Washington) for the case Echostar Satellite LLC v. Federal Communications Commission.

Since the Congress had not given agency specific direction for satellite systems, the Federal Communications Commission had no authority to apply these rules to them. The rules existing since 2003 had been ruled off by the three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington.

As per the rules which exist, the pay TV companies were not allowed to switch off remotely any particular output in a subscriber’s set top box placed on their house. As per the argument put forth by the cable companies all pay TV companies were also brought under the ruling in 2003 to set a common platform and treat everyone equally for accessing the premium contents.

In 2002 as per the agreement between the National Cable and Telecommunication Association and FCC, the rules were formulated. Largest U.S. cable operator, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) along with Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE:TWC) and consumer–electronic group which mainly comprises of Sony Corp, Zenith Electronics Corp. And LG Electronics Inc, all of them in total comprise the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. But the satellite providers were excluded from these negotiations by the FCC.

There was no one to comment on the matter or the ruling. However FCC’s spokesperson Justin Cole has quoted that the FCC is reviewing the court’s order. On the other hand National Cable and Telecommunications Association’s spokesperson Brian Dietz declined to comment on the ruling.

Shares of Dish Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH) rose by 0.78% to end at $37.35

Shares of Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) rose by 0.26% to end at $98.85

Shares of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) declined by 0.05% to end at $39.18