FCC to "improve" CableCARD rules this month: Via Law & Disorder Section - Ars Technica.
The FCC's new National Broadband Plan made it clear that the agency has had it with CableCARD's failings and wants to try something else. Specifically, the FCC wants a new "gateway" device that would apply to all TV providers (cable, satellite, IPTV). Like a broadband modem, the gateway device would take its inputs from the different TV systems, but output a signal in a standard format that can be used by DVRs, TVs, and set-top boxes.
The changes start this month. The FCC has just announced plans for its April meeting, and they include these two juicy items:
Read Original Article:(Via Law & Disorder Section - Ars Technica.)
Satellite TV to FCC: we're special, don't make us open up: Via Law & Disorder Section - Ars Technica.
If you've tried to pump your fully-paid-up cable connection into, say, a computer running Windows Media Center, you've probably come up against the closed nature of pay-TV and the severe limitations of CableCARD. And what about satellite TV? Don't even think about it.
The FCC wants to blow open the market for third-party video devices, scrapping some of the current (failed) CableCARD rules and adding satellite providers to the list. read more... »
Comcast sued for not selling set-top boxes, CableCARDs: Via Law & Disorder Section - Ars Technica
Cheryl Corralejo is mad at hell at Comcast, and she isn't going to take it anymore. The object of her righteous crusade? Cable box rentals. Corralejo wants to own her box outright, and she has filed a class action complaint on behalf of all other Californians who desperately want to stop paying monthly fees just for a bit of decryption equipment.
The case, filed in federal court in California, began in late November and was recently unearthed by Multichannel News. Comcast has yet to respond.
The gist of the case, according to a copy of the complaint seen by Ars Technica, is rental fees. Corralejo argues that Comcast has a monopoly over video service in her area and that it uses that monopoly power to force her to use decryption equipment, which Corralejo cannot purchase outright. After only a few months, alleges the complaint, end users have already paid Comcast more than the box is worth. read more... »
Lauren Weinstein's Blog: Important Warning Regarding New HD TiVo and Cable System Incompatibilities: You may have seen much (deserved) hoopla regarding the new relatively low-priced HD TiVo, that uses CableCARD technology to allow a direct interface between digital cable systems and the TiVo unit.
While it is generally understood that the current generation of these devices (this may well change within a year or two) cannot access two-way cable services such as Pay Per View (PPV) or Video On Demand (VOD), many potential buyers of this TiVo product may not be aware of concerns regarding the use of Switched Digital Video (SDV) on an increasing number of cable systems. read more... »
Alienware Won't Sell Consumers CableCard PCs: "An anonymous reader writes 'Alienware doesn't think CableCard is ready for the mass market. The Dell subsidiary is coming out with some high-end Media Center PCs but won't sell them directly to consumers because the HD-enabling CableCard 'requires the expertise of a reseller and installer.' read more... »
Cable Firms to Raise Set-Top Box Rates:PHILADELPHIA -- Cable companies are planning to charge more for set-top boxes to help pay for new, more expensive versions mandated by the Federal Communications Commission.
They say the price increases are a result of the government's push to spur competition for the boxes, which are required to receive digital programming and change channels. It's not yet clear how much the charges will rise. read more... »
Cable Cos. Fighting Innovation in Next Gen Devices: "A new generation of cable TV devices are on the way, but cable companies are working to ensure they can control innovation in novel features and limit your ability to use TV content.
Back in 1996, Congress directed the FCC to foster useful, competitive alternatives to cable providers' proprietary set-top boxes. That led to the creation of the CableCARD, which has helped open the digital cable set-top market to devices like TiVo Series 3 and Windows Media Center. Proprietary boxes still have a leg up on CableCARD devices because the latter can't access two-way services like Video-on-Demand or Switched Digital Video channels that cable operators plan to deploy, so a CableCARD successor is now in the works. read more... »
Vista Media Center Plus CableCard Equals No TV: "notthatwillsmith writes 'ATI's internal CableCard readers are finally available, and Maximum PC got hands-on time with a couple of Vista-powered systems built using the FCC-mandated technology. The short version? It doesn't work. read more... »
EFF: Paper: Who Controls Your Television?:
» Download a PDF of this paper [213K]
Today, consumers can digitally record their favorite television shows, move recordings to portable video players, excerpt a small clip to include in a home video, and much more. The digital television transition promises innovation and competition in even more great gadgets that will give consumers unparalleled control over their media.
But an inter-industry organization that creates television and video specifications used in Europe, Australia, and much of Africa and Asia is laying the foundation for a far different future -- one in which major content providers get a veto over innovation and consumers face draconian digital rights management (DRM) restrictions on the use of TV content. At the behest of American movie and television studios, the Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB) is devising standards to ensure that digital television devices obey content providers' commands rather than consumers' desires. These restrictions will take away consumers' rights and abilities to use lawfully-acquired content so that each use can be sold back to them piecemeal. read more... »