[slowbiscuit]

See condition two in link below, basically all Charter has to do is get just one CE manufacturer to buy in to their proprietary security and poof no more Cablecard installs. Which means no more new WMC HTPCs on Charter, and possibly Tivo if they don't buy into Charter's DCAS scheme.


This is a very bad precedent, in other words, but at least it's only a two-year waiver.

http://www.multichannel.com/technology/charter-scores-set-top-waiver/142813

 

[ncarty97]

A bit scary, but it does open up the possibility that HTPC's could be built to handle their downloadable security, getting rid of the need for a cablecard all together.

 

[Sammy2]

Software encryption on a PC? I'm not sure that they'll want to do that. They want a more "secure" device than an PC for this.

 

[Sammy2]

 http://www.avsforum.com/t/903396/charter-hdtv/3270#post_23220835


Like I said over there, how can you indefinitely comply with the FCC's CableCARD rules if you no longer deploy new cable cards after this new STB goes on sale?

 

[Sammy2]



Quote:
The FCC also accepted conditions volunteered by Charter outlined in an April 4 filing that included a promise to expand the reach of its 100 Mbps high-speed Internet tier to an additional 200,000 homes within two years of getting the waiver, and to go-all digital in all markets within nine months after the two-year waiver expires.

"Let us do what we want and we 'volunteer' to do what we already plan on doing."

 

[vladd]



Quote:
The waiver clears the way for Charter to deploy dual-security set-top boxes that support the new downloadable security platform, which requires a “commodity” hardware chip, and an integrated version of Charter's legacy security system that will be used as the MSO rolls out the new technology.

Forget about this happening on a PC.

 

[erickotz]



Quote:
Originally Posted by vladd  /t/1468992/fcc-downloadable-securit...w-cablecard-installs-on-charter#post_23223231


Forget about this happening on a PC.

It won't run on the PC's processor itself, but a PC tuner could be made, similar to an InfiniTV, allowing the secure portions to run in an secure environment (basically, an OCUR could be made that used downloadable security rather than a CableCARD)

 

[Sammy2]

This is ridiculous. After you guys (and SiliconDust / TiVo as well) do all the R&D for these tuners a Court of Appeals pulls the carpet out from under you.

 

[jmallory]

Maybe Ceton could get Charter to subsidize the R&D? .


I am on Charter myself and it really seems unlikely that the what, fifth largest MSO, could get a CE company to develop and get retailers to stock this kind of device. Maybe if it was Comcast or a consortium of MSOs. Maybe Pace or Arris would do it but then you have to have a retailer stock it.

 

[olyteddy]

Walmart is willing to take on hare-brained schemes like that...