A step in the right direction, but I don't have faith that the FCC will follow through given their track record.

Recommendation 4.12:

On an expedited basis, the FCC

should adopt rules for cable operators to fix certain Cable-

CARD issues while development of the gateway device

functionality progresses. Adoption of these rules should be

completed in the fall of 2010.

 

And about the gateways, recommendation 4.13:

The FCC should initiate a proceeding

to ensure that all multichannel video programming

distributors (MV PDs) install a gateway device or equivalent

functionality in all new subscriber homes and in all

homes requiring replacement set-top boxes, starting on or

before Dec. 31, 2012.

 

About time. Let's put this CableCARD mess to bed.

Agreed, but I don't necessarily see a problem with CableCARD, just the cable industry's extreme resistance to it. But by mandating gateways I feel we may have a better option since everyone will be on an open playing field with the same standards. Sort of like a HDHomeRun for cable companies. They can reuse existing coax wiring in the house with MoCA or similar or connect to Cat5/Cat6 cable. Whichever is there. Mind you this isn't a bill or anything, it's more or less just a plan or proposal by the FCC. I have a feeling the final thing may be watered down. But I would suggest to anyone who wants to see some progress to write your congress critters and tell them you support recommendations 4-12 and 4-13 in the national broadband plan. Also when the FCC opens it up for comments, put some comments.

Both of those statements say the FCC 'should'.  Doesn't sound solid.

Just curious, where is this quoted from?

Personally, I think the concept of CableCARD is great.  Technologically, the implementation is a joke - the designers were either incompetent, or wanted it to fail - take your pick.

IMHO, the best way to fix this is to put a sunset on cable companies being able to offer STBs to consumers (instead they have to purchase them) creating demand for companies to make STBs.

The national broadband plan: http://www.broadband.gov/plan/

erkotz

Just curious, where is this quoted from?

Personally, I think the concept of CableCARD is great.  Technologically, the implementation is a joke - the designers were either incompetent, or wanted it to fail - take your pick.

IMHO, the best way to fix this is to put a sunset on cable companies being able to offer STBs to consumers (instead they have to purchase them) creating demand for companies to make STBs.

You're right, we didn't get telephones until you could buy your own and the phone companies were delt out of the mandatory equipment business. Otherwise we'd all be using those WE 500 sets with those coiled cord handsets.

Removed the cablecos ownership of STB and we'll finally get some innovation.

John

Recommendation 4.13: On an expedited basis, the FCC should adopt rules for cable operators to fix certain CableCARD issues while development of the gateway device functionality progresses. Adoption of these rules should be completed in the fall of 2010.

Four factors hinder consumer demand to purchase CableCARD devices and manufacturers’ willingness to produce those devices. First, retail CableCARD devices cannot access all linear channels in cable systems with Switched Digital Video (SDV) unless cable operators voluntarily give customers a separate set-top box as an SDV tuning adapter.¹²⁵ Second, consumers perceive retail set-top boxes to be more expensive than set-top boxes leased at regulated rates from the cable operator. This perception is partially driven by a lack of transparency in CableCARD pricing for operator-leased boxes and by the bundling of leased boxes into package prices by operators.¹²⁶ Third, consumers who buy retail set-top boxes can encounter more installation and support costs and hassles than those who lease set-top boxes from their cable operators.¹²⁷ Fourth, the current retail CableCARD device certification process, run through CableLabs, incurs incremental costs of at least $100,000 to $200,000 during product development. The process also currently introduces other negative elements, including complexity, uncertainty and delays.¹²⁸

Specifically, the proposed rules should address the four CableCARD issues. They should:

• Ensure equal access to linear channels for retail and operator-leased CableCARD devices in cable systems with SDV by allowing retail devices to receive and transmit out-of-band communications with the cable headend over IP.¹²⁹
• Establish transparent pricing for CableCARDs and operator-leased set-top boxes. Consumers should see the appropriate CableCARD charge, whether they purchase a retail device or lease one from the operator, and they should receive a comparable discount off packages that include the operator-leased set-top box if they choose to purchase one instead.¹³⁰
• Standardize installation policies for retail and operator-leased CableCARD devices to ensure consumers buying CableCARD-enabled devices at retail do not face materially different provisioning hurdles than those using operator-leased set-top boxes.¹³¹
• Streamline and accelerate the certification process for retail CableCARD devices.¹³² For example, the rules could restrict the certification process to cover hardware only, similar to the certification required for cable-ready TVs, to ensure retail CableCARD devices do not harm a cable operator’s network.

Addressing these issues will not require large investments in either headend or customer premise infrastructure.¹³³

In fact, fixing these four CableCARD issues will sustain the current retail market for set-top boxes, enable companies that have invested in CableCARD-based products in accordance with current rules to compete effectively until the gateway device is deployed at scale, encourage more innovation until the gateway device is widely deployed and potentially allow for competition in the provision of the gateway device.

Absolutely agree that we shouldn't be renting STBs from cable companies, but that's what Opencable was supposed to bring us.  So far the cable companies resisted it at every turn - ridiculous charges for unneeded truck rolls (with some cable companies like Verizon charging as much as $70), flat out refusal to provide them for any device other than TiVo, mismatched firmware and other BS excuses while the cableco's settops get special treatment and work flawlessly even though they use the exact same cards, no agreement on standards for SDV and ondemand etc etc.

 All of this has to stop and the FCC needs to put its foot down now.  Personally I think fall of 2010 is aggressive but I like aggressive.  End the nonsense now. 

Warning: OT

 Ditto with cellphones.  Today, most phones are supplied by the carriers and are locked down with proprietary software.  I would like to see the mobile phone industry move to open, unlocked phones.  Today, my carrier, AT&T, determines what phone I'm using and can change my data plan based on my phone.  I would like to see an open cellphone policy.

woodyl

Warning: OT

 Ditto with cellphones.  Today, most phones are supplied by the carriers and are locked down with proprietary software.  I would like to see the mobile phone industry move to open, unlocked phones.  Today, my carrier, AT&T, determines what phone I'm using and can change my data plan based on my phone.  I would like to see an open cellphone policy.

Would you be willing to pay $600-700 for your phone to do so? Most people wouldn't. On the other hand, my WMC box isn't subsidized by anyone except myself.

Would you be willing to pay $600-700 for your phone to do so? Most people wouldn't. On the other hand, my WMC box isn't subsidized by anyone except myself.

 

Since I am in the wireless industry, I can ASSURE you that phones don't cost anywhere near this!  Think about the difference between an IPhone and IPod touch... there is no reason that adding wireless to a device would double or triple the price.  The wireless carriers in the US have marketed it as such and you are spreading their message like a sheeple.

Reading through the National Broadband Plan, it appears that the FCC is not going to let DirectTv or Dish off the hook this time. The new gateway (not cablecard) will apply to all television service providers.

Of course this isn't going to start until Dec 31 of 2012, but it means eventually all providers (AT&T, FiOS, DirectTv, Dish, and our "favorite" cablecos) will become available this way or go out of business.

The provision on the opening of OOB traffic to a headend for SDV can easily be met by all cablecos right now by simply turning off SDV and transmitting everything. It's a choice and I think the cheapest one for Time Warner and others to make right now.

John

I know I've come across it in the past, if not here, on engadgethd or missingremote or avs...  but in this context, what is the "gateway"?

Is it a good thing for Media Center or a bad thing (a la tru2way)

 

Remember that the Telecommunications Act mandating seperable security was passed in 1996. Note that anything remotely consumer friendly didn't appear until mid-2000s. The Feds aren't the fastest group in the world. I know of faster dinosaurs and they're all dead.