AOI backs Charter proposal for unified FCC oversight of streaming video

The push for a unified framework aims to level the playing field for incumbent cable operators like Charter, which currently face stricter Title VI mandates than streaming rivals. If the FCC adopts this stance, major streamers could face new obligations ranging from public interest requirements to technical standards. For the industry, this represents a potential shift from platform-specific rules to content-centric regulation that ignores the delivery method. Watch for the FCC's June 25 Open Meeting agenda for signals on whether the commission will formalize a review of video provider classifications.

The regulatory debate intensified in late 2025 as the FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, began questioning the 'streaming loophole' that exempts digital platforms from many traditional broadcast and cable rules. Per Truth on the Market (February 2026), legal analysts argue that existing mandates under the Communications Act no longer reflect a market where streaming captured nearly 45% of viewing time in 2024. This follows years of pushback from FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who maintained that the agency requires specific congressional authorization to reclassify virtual providers as multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs).

Beyond oversight of content distribution, the FCC has shifted toward enforcing technical and security parity across delivery modes. Per Broadcast Law Blog (June 2026), the commission is currently moving to modernize the Emergency Alert System (EAS), requiring all participants—including cable and broadcast entities—to implement strict cybersecurity protocols for remotely managed equipment. This mirrors broader efforts to close regulatory gaps, such as the California legislature’s 2025 mandate requiring streaming services to comply with the CALM Act’s commercial loudness rules, which previously only applied to linear television.

Charter’s specific regulatory focus also extends to infrastructure security. In April 2026, per Broadband Breakfast, Charter urged the FCC to exempt 'wholly trusted' companies from certain disclosure requirements regarding foreign involvement in transmission lines. As the industry faces new bans on foreign-made hardware and stricter data privacy enforcement—upheld by an 8-1 Supreme Court decision in June 2026—traditional operators are increasingly lobbying for a regulatory environment that balances national security burdens with the competitive agility enjoyed by their unregulated streaming competitors.