As you may have read earlier this month, the FCC went on the record in expressing their dissatisfaction with separable security CableCARD technology, related to industry openness and innovation. Something I’ve been harping on for ages. And there’s plenty of blame to go around. (Pot, meet kettle.) So the FCC has opened up the floor to commentary. Amongst the various players with a vested interest, Ben Drawbaugh alerted me that TiVo has just responded. Not only does TiVo slam the potential HDMI-only output limitation, they tell it like it is in regards to the cable industry’s “artificial and discriminatory restrictions” and point to CableLabs continued (tru2way) shortcomings:
Only the few manufacturers who have agreements with cable operators to deploy the cable industry’s proprietary “tru2way” middleware can create devices that access the full range of services currently offered by cable operators. Yet those tru2way products are forbidden by license from (1) providing any choice in user interface when accessing interactive services, and (2) including non-MVPD programming services, such as Internet-delivered content, in the user interface that displays the available cable programming. Deviations must be requested and often are refused. Tru2way thus prevents a device maker from offering a consumer the full range of options that her product is capable of providing, in a single integrated user interface. In order for manufacturers to create true “plug and play” video devices, these MVPD-imposed, unnecessary limitations need to be removed.
All in all, TiVo’s response is a good read. I hope other retail device manufacturers continue to reinforce these points, that the FCC is listening… and that they have the teeth to do something about it.