The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a district court that had found that FilmOn (formerly known as “Aereokiller”), an online video service, can use the same copyright compulsory licenses as traditional cable TV services. Public Knowledge supported FilmOn’s legal position in this case and is disappointed by the outcome.

Today, Univision’s stations went dark on Charter Spectrum cable systems, preventing subscribers in affected markets from accessing Univision’s Spanish-language content. The blackout is the result of a carriage dispute between the two companies and impacts millions of subscribers.

Today, Public Knowledge filed comments on the Federal Communications Commission’s recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing the availability of diverse and independent video programming. The Commission is specifically seeking input on ways that large pay TV companies can harm diverse and independent programmers and hold back emerging competition from new video devices.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that, if followed up with new rules, would benefit TV viewers by giving them increased access to diverse and independent programming. Public Knowledge applauds the Commission for taking another step toward freeing consumers and programmers from the anti-competitive grip of pay TV giants.

Public Knowledge will host a press briefing Thursday, May 19 at 11 a.m. ET featuring minority programmers who support the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to unlock the set-top box market so consumers can access the cable content they’re already paying for on the device of their choosing — without a gatekeeper. It marks a necessary step to promote and protect multicultural and independent programmers currently at the mercy of cable.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice announced that they are in the final stages of their reviews of the proposed merger between Charter, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks. The FCC’s review has focused on issues directly affecting consumers in the broadband marketplace, while the Department of Justice’s review has addressed ways that the new company would be able to leverage its position as a dominant distributor of video programming to affect the online video marketplace.

Today, Public Knowledge filed comments in the Federal Communications Commission’s recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on a proposal to allow pay TV subscribers to access programming on the devices and apps of their choice, instead of using devices or experiences controlled by their pay TV provider.

Today, Public Knowledge filed reply comments on the Federal Communications Commission’s recent Notice of Inquiry addressing the availability of diverse and independent video programming. The Commission is specifically seeking input on ways that large pay TV companies can harm diverse and independent programmers and hold back emerging competition from new video devices. Public Knowledge supports the FCC’s efforts to build a record documenting these abuses.

Today, President Obama announced his support for the FCC’s proposal to open up cable set-top boxes to competition from new apps and devices.

Today, the National Cable Telecommunications Association’s chief Michael Powell delivered a video service demonstration in which he claimed that apps allow consumers to access pay-TV content and streaming video services on the same device, and sometimes without a set-top box. Public Knowledge contends that the app market is an insufficient substitute for consumer choice and supports the FCC’s proposal to unlock the box.