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On Monday, June 16, 2025, the Congressional Internet Caucus Academy hosted a panel titled “Outside of the Box: Rethinking The FCC’s Video Regulations In The Age Of Streaming” at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC.

The panel explored the challenges arising from the decline of legacy cable TV and the rise of streaming services. Consumer preferences had shifted the media marketplace over the last decade — from live linear television broadcast to streaming and on-demand viewing. Fifteen years earlier, 85–90% of American households had subscribed to cable TV, but by 2025 that number had dropped to around 50% as streaming platforms came to dominate the market. With well over 200 streaming services available to consumers, an overwhelming 99 percent of U.S. households subscribed to at least one or more streaming services. However, the regulations governing this dynamic marketplace had been developed in the 1980s and 1990s.

The panel examined the extent to which these rules created an unlevel playing field, and whether they should be eliminated or updated to reflect the current landscape — and, if so, how. The discussion also focused on how companies were being forced to innovate and compete to retain audiences, and the speakers offered predictions for the future state of the TV and video marketplace.

SPEAKERS
Michael P. O’Rielly – Former Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Cheryl Leanza – Best Best & Krieger LLP
Kristian Stout – Director of Innovation Policy, International Center for Law & Economics

MODERATOR / HOST
Tim Lordan – Executive Director, Congressional Internet Caucus Academy

ORIGINAL LIVESTREAM
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