Open Cable Standard Not So Open

Posted by Hemos on Monday September 15, 2003 @02:12AM from the locking-down-your-settop dept.

Mike Hicks writes "A few days ago, I heard about the FCC approving new rules for standardizing digital cable in the US. This involved using a set top box or tuner integrated into a TV along with a smart card (much like digital satellite services). Unfortunately, it looks like the standard (believed to be OpenCable) is meant to tightly control the hardware and software that can be used, probably making any open-source implementation very difficult if not impossible. I seem to be having a case of deja vu"

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It's is open, it's your analysis that's wrong by psyconaut · 2003-09-15 03:41 · Score: 1, Troll

OpenCable is designed to be a standardization amongst cable companies (they all have slightly or widely different standards right now) and equipment manufacturers (head equipment through to televisions). This is good for the consumer.

I'm not sure how or why you think that the "open source community" is ignored...how many OSS guys are going to design their own TV or set-top box?

-psy