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FCC Votes To Fight Cable's Reign Over Set-top Boxes (engadget.com)

Posted by yaelk on from the cable dept.

Last month, reports surfaced that the FCC planned to pry set-top boxes out of hands of cable and satellite companies. Today, the Commission passed the 'Unlock the Box' plan that would do just that. The proposal aims to introduce more competition when it comes to the boxes users rent from television providers. Under the new rules, cable companies would have to give third-party device makers the information they'd need in order to build set-top boxes.

4 of 186 comments (clear)

  1. Fighting over horsewhip handle designs by sinij · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is nothing but fighting over horsewhip handle designs. Cable industry days are numbered.

    1. Re:Fighting over horsewhip handle designs by NotDrWho · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Cable industry days are numbered.

      No, they'll just jack up the prices for your internet service to make up for what you're not paying them for cable.

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  2. Why? My Cable Card Tuner is great by bobbied · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Didn't the FCC solve this with the Cable Card thing? I have a media server that emulates a cable box for my whole house. Works great.

    The only real problem here is that with the demise of Windows Media Center and Windows 7 there isn't a viable fully vetted option for me to turn to that will allow me to watch and DVR protected content. Yes, Silicon Dust is working on a version, but it's not yet certified (as far as I know) for protected content.

    The FCC already solved this issue. Why are they trying to solve it again?

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  3. Re:Why? My Cable Card Tuner is great by JustNiz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Except you can never buy the cable card, the cable company "rents" it to you at the same price that a cable box would cost to rent.
    Its money for old rope. Its just an artificial dependency who's only purpose is to scam you out of another $15/month or whatever.