SA Ships CableCARD Set-Tops

[dkennedy]

SA Ships CableCARD Set-Tops

January 8, 2007

By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News

Las Vegas -- Scientific Atlanta started shipping set-top boxes with removable CableCARDs to cable operators for testing, and it plans to deliver production units for deployment by the end of February, said Dave Clark, the company's director of product strategy and management.

The boxes are designed to meet the Federal Communications Commission's July 1, 2007, rule banning set-top boxes with integrated security functions. New boxes put into service as of July 1 must provide separable conditional-access features, such as those provided by CableCARDs.

"This is a little aspirin for operators as they get ready for the ban," Clark added.

SA’s first CableCARD-enabled models are the 8300C, 8300HDC, 8240C, 8240HDC, 4250C, 4250HDC, 4240C and 4240HDC. The initial group are existing set-top models SA converted to use CableCARDs. All of the vendor's future set-top boxes will support CableCARDs, Clark added, unless the FCC regulation changes.

Last month, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association said in a report to the FCC that cable operators serving 90% of U.S. cable subscribers have deployed 216,000 CableCARDs to date.

[dkennedy]

Scientific Atlanta’s CableCARD Separable Security Initiatives

January 7, 2007

Scientific Atlanta News Release (2007 CES)

Scientific Atlanta reinforced its support for separable security with the debut of a powerful, flexible new line of CableCard host set-tops (the 4550HDC and the 8550HDC). Shortly after that, Scientific Atlanta became the first company to receive qualified status for a multi-stream CableCARD (M-Card™).

Separable Security - FCC regulations for cable operators state that commencing July 1, 2007:

... cable operators may not “place in service new navigation devices [set-top boxes] for sale, lease or use that perform both conditional access and other functions in a single integrated device.”

Transition to Separable Security

Scientific Atlanta has been working aggressively to develop solutions to support and drive the transition to separable security. In July 2000, SA introduced the current single-stream CableCARD to support a removable security solution. SA’s product plans to meet the Separable Security mandate include a new Multi-Stream CableCARD and new CableCARD hosts:

Multi-stream CableCARDs (M-Card) currently available
Explorer® 8300C & 8300HDC™ and Explorer 4250C and 4250HDC™ available soon for labs and deployment
Scientific Atlanta is the innovator in delivering separable security solutions and will work with our customers to ensure success. We have dedicated teams in place to help your site in the transition.

What is CableCARD?

A removable security module which, when inserted in an OpenCable™ certified set-top, television or other host device, enables delivery of digital video programming or other services
Allows the cable service provider to communicate with the set-top to verify consumer as a customer and authorize the set-top with the correct subscription features.
Where S-Cards supported a single stream of video, newer M-Cards will support up to six video streams simultaneously.

Status of Scientific Atlanta’s CableCARD Activities

Scientific Atlanta was the first to receive M-Card certification and first to announce two-way set-tops with separable security. SA is committed to understanding your needs, providing you with the right products to meet your goals, and will continue to be at the forefront of M-Card feature development.

The M-Card will replace the current S-Card

The M-Card is backwards compatible; it works with both current single-stream one-way TV sets found at retail and future two-way devices.

M-Card was qualified by CableLabs March 2006
Includes all two-way features and multi-stream functions (up to 6 streams)

Please contact your Scientific Atlanta representative if you have questions or need assistance as you plan your transition from S-Cards to M-Cards or send an email to: [e-mail]