On the cable side, the proposed change would unbundle the cable companies' software to allow anyone from TiVo to Google access to Comcast or Time
Warner Cable's network. Cue incredible innovation and lower prices for consumers.
And cue Google, Microsoft and Apple's aggressive entrance into TV--either on their own or through
partnerships with the cable providers. Not only are the Web's giants dying to offer TV and Internet services together, they want to bring the Web's ad measurement technology to TV.
Currently,
cable companies have special dispensation from the FCC to maintain dominion over the hardware that accesses their networks, but that runs out July 1, and Martin says he doesn't want them to get
another extension. This would certainly kill their "triple-play" business.