Aereo urges customers to ‘stand together’

Chet Kanojia

Aereo’s CEO and founder Chet Kanojia has called on users of the blocked web TV service to “stand together” and raise their disappointment at the service’s closure with US lawmakers.

In an open letter to customers, days after Aereo was forced to suspend operations following a damaging legal defeat, Kanojia urged its customers to demand the right to use a “cloud-based antenna” to access TV.

“Today, I’m asking you to raise your hands and make your voices heard. Tell your lawmakers how disappointed you are that the nation’s highest court issued a decision that could deny you the right to use the antenna of your choice to access live over-the-air broadcast television. Tell them your stories of why having access to a cloud-based antenna is important to you and your families. Show them you care about this issue,” said Kanojia.

“Don’t let your voices be silenced. Let’s stand together for innovation, progress, and technology.”

Last week the US Supreme Court ruled by a majority of six to three that Aereo’s strategy of charging customers a monthly fee for retransmitted streams of US broadcast channels violated copyright and should stop.

Aereo has since suspended its service, claiming this action to be a “temporary pause” as it maps out its next steps.