PRAISE WHERE IT’S DUE: Obama to Help Push for Open Market for Cable Set-Top Boxes.

In an unusual step, Mr. Obama will weigh in personally on a pending proposal at the Federal Communications Commission, filing comments that encourage it to loosen cable companies’ grip on the boxes. And he will sign an executive order calling on every federal agency to send him proposals within 60 days for steps they can take to promote competition in a range of industries and better protect consumers.

The F.C.C. proposal would allow subscribers to choose and purchase the devices they use to view television programming, instead of leasing the boxes from their cable companies at an average annual cost of $231. The F.C.C. approved the proposal in February, starting a 60-day comment period that will soon close.

Good.

The chairman of Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers said that “this just seemed like a clear-cut case where you could get a win for consumers and a win for innovation,” and he’s right.