FCC Grants TiVo a Pass

In a win for TiVo and a set-back of sorts for the Digital Living Network Alliance’s new “VidiPath” secure IP home networking standard, the Federal Communications Commission granted TiVo a waiver that will defer it from having to implement the DLNA’s technology until June 1, 2017. In the FCC order, the Commission acknowledged that TiVo does not use an “open industry standard” as required by the rule, but did “find that its network interoperability solution enables subscribers to set up a home network and, given TiVo’s market share, we do not believe that a temporary waiver will undermine the goals” of the rule. The rule on leased cable set-tops is set to take effect on June 1, 2015 (smaller cable companies had until Sept. 1, 2015 to comply), so TiVo has effectively secured a two-year waiver.