Brooklyn, N.Y. –Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke led thirty members of the Congressional Black Caucus in a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler explaining their concerns that the proposed “All Vid” adapter would increase consumer costs and significantly harm minority and independent programmers. 

“All Vid” would function as a common interface connection to televisions, DVRs and other smart video devices from cable and satellite video providers.

The letter points out that “All Vid” would require consumers to rent additional equipment, resulting in higher costs:

“And even worse, while requiring consumers to rent more equipment it would eliminate consumer protections concerning privacy, emergency alerts, children’s programming and more.  Consumers would pay more and be protected less.”

Besides the negative impact on consumers, “All Vid” could diminish minority media voices by undermining the model that has allowed them to find a enter the market:

“All Vid will cause irreparable harm to independent and minority programmers by allowing third parties to strip programming from visible channel placements and relegate it to the bottom of the pile.  These merchants would also be allowed to sell intrusive advertising without sharing any revenue with programmers, cutting off the needed revenue to continue producing quality content.”

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, the Committee on Ethics and the Committee of Small Business in the House of Representatives, proudly represents Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, Park Slope, Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.