http://www.multichannel.com/article/450251-FCC_Wants_Cable_To_Adopt_Open_Standard_Gateway_Device_To_Rep lace_Set_Tops_In_2012.php

Apparently the FCC wants CE manufacturers and providers to offer a gateway device to replace STB's. This product must be network agnostic and will be ready by 2012. In the meantime, the FCC wants providers to offer open and transparent devices in retail CC devices. They also want these devices to offer equal access to channels regardless of devices, and offer a standard installation process. Finally they want providers to offer a discount if they use a retail device.

Ha!

Can you say pipedream?

The FCC wants broadband for all too, I'd like some of what they are smoking. :)

This guy at the FCC needs to go!

This guy at the FCC needs to go!

I assume by "this guy" you mean Genachowski? I say if he can actually make the gateway idea (this is the idea TiVo proposed, right?) happen, I heartily approve. Maybe he'll even engage in some arm-twisting with the satellite providers and get them to fall into line too... (hey, I can dream, right?)

DBS uses DVB-S/S2 in which tons of vendors offer boxes for. It should be possible for a STB maker to make a compatible D* or E* box that works fine at even a lower cost.

Maybe Linux solutions could take advantage of the gateway.

Read the FCC's recommendations on pages 51-54 (http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan-chapter-4-broadband-competition-and-innovation-policy.pdf).

DBS uses DVB-S/S2 in which tons of vendors offer boxes for. It should be possible for a STB maker to make a compatible D* or E* box that works fine at even a lower cost.

As long as you're only looking at Dish/E*. DirecTV's DSS system is not based on DVB-S in any way. And even E*'s implementation isn't *exactly* DVB-S; the access card layer is their own unique bastardization, not the same as what's in the actual standards.