[mythtv-users] FCC admits CableCARD a failure, vows to try something else

[Travis Tabbal]

On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 1:35 PM, Matt Emmott <memmott at gmail.com> wrote:

>
> I bet I'm not alone when I say I have some ideas for them. :-) - Perhaps
> it's time to contact our legislators?
>
>

Oh, I could give them a load of comments that the cable industry would hate.
I wonder though, what's wrong with DVB-C? It's a known spec with existing
deployment in Europe. Perhaps our friends across the water can tell me if
it's good or bad. It seems like DVB based tech is easy enough to interface
with Myth though.

I think the biggest thing they should do is require open access to the
tuners. All communication with the user side of the tuner must be open-spec
and unencrypted with the card handling the crypto. No restrictions on who or
what is allowed to access the stream outside of the tuner device. The tuner
output is unencrypted MPEG2 or h264 along with any status information
available. They should also require that channels and such not move around
on a whim, the channel map must be broadcast in an unencrypted, open format.


Like clear-QAM with basic channel-map data and the ability to encrypt
channels on the wire side for premium, PPV, etc..

No requiring their menus and such either. Just a simple tuning API will do
nicely, thank you. If they want to do 2-way devices, similar rules apply.

I also liked the idea of not allowing cable companies to lease boxes. If
they have to work with whatever stuff people might buy at the store, then
they are not able to play the games they have been playing with non-supplied
devices.

Oh, and I think the same rules should apply to DBS satellite companies. :)
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