FCC Votes To Fight Cable's Reign Over Set-top Boxes (engadget.com)
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.
This is nothing but fighting over horsewhip handle designs. Cable industry days are numbered.
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.