NCTA asks for Set-Top Waiver

NCTA ASKS FOR SET-TOP WAIVER
[SOURCE: Broadband-Today.com]
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association has formally requested an extension on an upcoming mandate that would prohibit cable operators from deploying digital set-tops with embedded security as of July 1, 2007. In a filing made to the Federal Communications Commission, cable's top lobbying arm reiterated the high costs of the current "fix" to separable security -- the CableCARD -- and how it will adversely affect both cable operators and consumers if cable companies are forced to support that technology in devices bought at retail as well as those leased to customers. The cable industry, the filing noted, has estimated the re-engineering required to enable leased devices to work with CableCARDs would add $72 to $93 per box, and direct costs to the cable industry of more than $500 million per year. Some costs would also have to be leveled on consumers, who would end up paying between $2 to $3 more in monthly lease charges for leased devices that use CableCARDs to authorize services. To date, cable operators have deployed more than 170,000 CableCARDs.
http://www.broadband-today.com/article/CA6375658.html?nid=2908