Instead of using a set-top box, the new Interactive Digital Cable Ready (IDCR) devices would utilize a CableCARD – which is inserted into a slot in the TV – similar to the one already being used for one-way DCR services.
“The cable industry is proposing to the FCC a clear and reasonable path that will enable cable customers to purchase digital TVs and other devices that will access cable’s advanced services without a set-top box,” said Kyle McSlarrow, NCTA President & CEO. “We look forward to working with the FCC and the consumer electronics industry to implement a solution which will allow market delivery of Interactive Digital Cable Ready devices in the near future.”
In a separate report filed today, NCTA highlighted the industry’s commitment to deploying a downloadable security system that can operate with both cable operator-supplied set-top boxes and IDCR devices. Downloadable security can replace CableCARD technology in equipment both supplied by cable operators and made commercially available by CE manufacturers and retailers. In its filing, NCTA reported that deployment of such a system, called Downloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS), is feasible with an expected national rollout of a downloadable security system by July 1, 2008.
A downloadable security system will increase the number of set-top box suppliers for cable operators since they can deploy any set-top equipment that includes DCAS. Also, DCAS can replace the existing and more expensive CableCARD-based “separate security” system for retail IDCR devices, thereby making such equipment more affordable at retail.
The proposals were submitted by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) in response to the FCC’s request that the cable and consumer electronics industries submit status reports on discussions regarding two-way devices and concrete proposals to bring two-way DCR products to market as quickly as possible.
Cable’s proposal for two-way devices includes specifications and license agreements that have been developed by the cable industry’s research and development organization, CableLabs, and have been commercially accepted. It also includes solutions for content protection, consumer education and product testing, and invites innovation in products, services, and networks.
The proposal builds upon voluntary market-based agreements that have already been reached between CableLabs and several consumer electronics manufacturers with a goal of manufacturing two-way IDCR devices. These agreements include the CableLabs OpenCable Applications Platform (“OCAP”) license agreement and the CableCARD-Host Interface License Agreement (“CHILA”). These agreements allow retail devices and interactive applications to be portable so they can work on cable systems across the country.
The largest cable operators have voluntarily committed to begin to launch OCAP in 2006. The proposed FCC regulation includes unprecedented voluntary benchmarks to which the cable industry has committed, including completing the installation of OCAP in cable headends nationwide by July 1, 2009. This deployment is specifically targeted to digital cable systems serving 5,000 or more subscribers with an activated channel capacity of at least 750 MHz. The cable industry is committing to deploy OCAP over a three-year period to give assurances to consumer electronics manufacturers that televisions or other IDCR devices built to OCAP and OpenCable specifications will work nationwide.
One-way DCR devices have been available to consumers for 18 months under both rules approved by the FCC and a CableLabs license. There are more than 370 one-way models from 22 manufacturers and over 80,000 CableCARDs have been provided to cable customers for use in these devices.
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