DSTAC

In  January, Charter Communications announced the selection of two device suppliers for its "World Box" STB that support downloadable conditional access. Progress is also being made on the government policy level with the initiation of Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee or DSTAC. A Second FCC meeting is coming up on March 24, 2015 (assuming no winter storm). The objective for the meeting is shown below.

From FCC web site:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/03/05/2015-05077/federal-advisory-committee-act-downloadable-security-technology-advisory-committee

"In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice advises interested persons that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC or Commission) Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee (DSTAC) will hold a meeting on March 24, 2015. At the meeting, the Current Commercial Requirements Working Group and the Technology and Preferred Architectures Working Group will present their findings, the Advisory Committee will consider establishing more working groups, and the committee will discuss any other topics related to the DSTAC's work that may arise."

The Latest on Life After CableCARD

With the obligation to use the CableCARD security scheme now a thing of the past, the question is: what will replace it? This is the question examined in an article from Light Reading, “Who will own cable’s Content Security?.”

Alticast CTO and President, John Carlucci, was interviewed for this article, which gives insight into the issues with replacing CableCARD with downloadable security for set-top boxes and where the future lies. The FCC are in the process of creating  an advisory board to look into alternative security options and this article is well worth reading by anyone interested in life after CableCARD.  

The End of the CableCARD

Written by John Carlucci, Alticast US CTO

From time to time, we reflect on the end of CableCard...

The US House of Representatives passed legislation that will sunset the CableCard generating separable security requirement over two years. In September, legislation was introduced into the Senate that allows for a working group to investigate a substitute that would stimulate creation of “competitive devices”.  Bill S.2799 (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/s2799-113/show) suggests a “software-based downloadable security system”.  The charter for the working group is shown below. 

• (1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission shall convene a working group of technical experts representing a wide-range of stakeholders, to identify, report, and recommend performance objectives, technical capabilities, and technical standards of a not unduly burdensome, uniform, and technology- and platform-neutral software-based downloadable security system designed to promote the competitive availability of navigation devices in furtherance of section 629 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 549).