DailyTech - FCC to Force all Cable TV Providers to Stream HD With "Open" Standard by 2014

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Hardware FCC to Force all Cable TV Providers to Stream HD With "Open" Standard by 2014
Jason Mick (Blog) - December 6, 2012 5:39 PM

27 comment(s) - last by Argon18.. on Dec 10 at 4:24 PM

Gov't agency tries to placate TiVo, who objected to the plan in 2010

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission -- upset that cable television providers (CTPs) did not allow streaming of HD video via secured connections like the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standard -- in 2010 decided to force the issue proposing an order to force CTPs to stream. The industry was less than enthusiastic and TiVo Inc. (TIVO), the largest maker of video-recorder set-top boxes, was particularly upset.

Commented TiVo, fearful that the new requirements would lead to CTPs locking it out, "If each cable operator deploys set-top boxes with its own understanding of an open industry standard, the result may be an outcome that is neither standard nor open."

The FCC listened and now it's come back with a revised version of the plan, which makes it clear the CTPs can deploy their own "open" standards as they wish, but the standards must be well-documented and easy enough that PC and set-top box makers could implement them on the receiver side with no contact with the cable provider.

_{[Image Source: Streaming Media Hosting]}

The new set of rules, set to be made mandatory by June 2, 2014, also clarifies what capabilities are expected of the HD streams:

recordable high-definition video
closed captioning data
service discovery
video transport
remote control command pass-through

DLNA Premium Video Profile, an HD-compliant version of the secure-streaming standard set to be ratified in 2013, was suggested as one possible option for cable companies.

A minor caveat is that small CTPs, with less than 400,000 customers, will get an additional 3 months to comply with the ruling (they will have to be compliant by Sept. 2, 2014).

Source: FCC

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Yet another

By FITCamaro on 12/7/2012 8:27:26 AM , Rating: 0

Instance where most people will cheer at the result without having a care in the world for the fact that the federal government has no authority to tell a company how it has to sell or offer its products or services.

RE: Yet another

By mcnabney on 12/7/2012 9:51:44 AM , Rating: 3

You are an idiot.
FCC regulates communications.
FAA regulates air travel of all sorts.
Food & Drug regulates everything from drug approval to meatpacking cleanliness.

If you want to live in a regulation-free country - try Somalia.

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RE: Yet another

By Zaranthos on 12/7/2012 11:49:08 AM , Rating: 2

There is a difference between rules and insanity. The USA is crossing into the realm of insanity with overly intrusive regulation that stretches far and wide.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Freedom_of_t...

I also find it amusing that China (Hong Kong) tops the list in economic freedom but if you're a Christian (or many other frowned upon religions) there you may just be thrown in prison if you're not careful.

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