Downloadable Conditional Access System: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:01, 11 October 2007

Revision as of 17:49, 3 November 2007

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The appearance of DCAS as a possible future technology has been used as a reason that the FCC should release cable companies from obligations regarding CableCards. [[Verizon FiOS]] wishes to be released from having to support cablecards at all on its network. Cable companies point to DCAS as a reason that they should be released from their obligation to use Cablecards in their devices, as the FCC directed in 1998. The [[Consumer Electronics Association]] representing major Consumer electronics manufacturers disagrees with these applications for waivers pointing to the insubstantiality of the proposal and that Cable companies are notoriously late and half hearted in their support of their own standards, as evidenced by their behavior with their earlier CableCARD proposal. Detractors of DCAS point out the proposal is being used to sow [[fear, uncertainty, and doubt]] in the minds of consumers, CE companies, and the FCC. Consumers are motivated to hold off buying Cablecard devices, CE companies are wondering whether their cablecard technology investments will soon be obsolete, and causes doubt amongst FCC regulators whether they should enforce deadlines and restrictions placed on cable companies regarding CableCARDs. Detractors point to this as the latest in a decade long set of delaying tactics that the cable company has used to avoid compliance with the [[Telecommunications Act of 1996]]. Cable companies counter that CableCARD devices have failed in the marketplace and that it would be foolish for them to be forced to use CableCARDs when the superior technology of DCAS will soon be available.

== InFCC The FutureMandate ==

The FCC has ruled that starting [[July 1]], [[2007]], cable customers will beare able to purchase DVRs and other 3rd party devices to legally view digital cable without having to rent hardware from the cable company.

== See also ==