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FCC Extends Set-Top Box Deadline

Posted by Zonk on from the just-a-little-longer dept.

Kadin2048 writes "The FCC today announced that it was once again rolling back the date (PDF!) for the eventual ban of "integrated set-top boxes" distributed and leased by cable companies to consumers, from 2006 to 2007. The move was a slight nod to the cable providers, who wanted the ban removed altogether, and a minor setback to the consumer electronics industry, who would have preferred that it stay on schedule. The ban would prevent the largest cable companies from integrating their digital content security devices with their navigation devices, allowing consumers to 'mix and match' the navigation or DVR set-top-box of their choice with a standard CableCARD security interface device. Currently, most digital cable set top boxes combine these two functions, meaning that digital cable customers who want DVR functionality must rent one from their cable company. By preventing the cable companies from leasing them to end-users, the FCC hopes to foster competition in the set-top-box market and allow more consumer choice. A statement from FCC Commissioner Johnathan Adelstein (PDF) was released simultaneously. The battle has been carefully watched by all the major players in the entertainment and electronics markets, including Microsoft, which had previously weighed in on the side of the consumer electronics camp (pro-deadline), but then later agreed with the one-year extension."

2 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. altho.... by Ledora · · Score: 5, Interesting

    altho I am glad to see the FCC doing something to benfit the consumer, I really wonder if this is their place. it sounds to me like it is a "monpoly" type issue and should have been taken up with the FTC. But like the FCC rules to make broadcasters switch to digital I really wonder if this is the goverments place at all to be.

  2. Cable Boxes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Frankly I hate the cable boxes the cable company offers.

    I liked the good old days when the sign can and I could split it to my 2 TVs.

    Now they think I should buy/rent two cable boxes - one for each TV.

    Now that I have a TV that has Side by Side picture they think I should have two cable boxes for that one TV.

    It is geating crazy. My TV has a built in decoder for basic channels.

    Stop these stupid cable boxes!!!! just send the whole signal to my house and allow me to buy spliter and such as I see fit.