Connected TV to dominate CES; NCTA fights terrestrial exemption decision

@FierceCable RT @tvtechnology  For some unfathomable reason, the consumer electronics industry keeps trying to get into the service provisioning space. Thus, don't be surprised when the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show becomes a wide stage for a number of Internet-connected TVs and wireless tablet devices. Story | Follow @FierceCable

> Cable companies, playing the victims in multiple retransmission programming disputes, also see themselves victims when the FCC demands that they open up their local programming to satellite-based competitors. The NCTA and Cablevision Systems (NYSE: CVC) are both continuing to try to wedge open a terrestrial loophole the FCC slammed shut earlier this year. Story.

> Speaking of the NCTA, the industry's primo lobbyists spent $4 million in the third quarter pushing items with the FCC, NTIA and FTC according to a disclosure report from the House clerk's office. Would that be a home office? Story.

> Comcast's (Nasdaq: CMCSA) ongoing argument with Level 3 about net traffic--call it a peering disagreement if you side with Comcast--could spell trouble for the Web, according to a piece in Bloomberg Businessweek. The Stacey Higginbotham item excoriates an "emasculated" FCC and predicts "we won't get regulations to solve this problem." Story.

> On a more flattering note for Comcast, analyst Paul Gallant thinks the MSO is "making progress" in getting regulators to approve its NBC Universal acquisition. Story.

And finally ... following the adage "if you can't beat ‘em, join ‘em," Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) has added yet another industry insider to its personnel files. Malik Ducard, senior vice president of digital distribution-the Americas is reportedly going to be expected to help Google work with studios to get content for Google TV. Story.