INTEROPERABLE SET-TOP BOXES
The FCC mandated in July 1998 that cable TV set-top boxes be available for retail sale by July 2000. Cable companies received a waiver on this requirement because open cable standards had not been agreed upon. Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. known as Cable Labs, is developing standards for set-top boxes with their Open Cable intiative. Without standards, off-the-shelf gear will not work on all providers' networks. Once standards are agreed upon and equipment is manufactured to the standard, consumers will be able to rent or purchase set-top boxes from retail outlets or cable providers. The FCC has mandated establishment of a standard for security by 2005.
Get Consumer Electronics now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
