Comcast limbers up for integrated security deadline

June 28, 2007 - With the FCC integrated security mandate fast approaching in the US for set-top box manufacturers and cable operators, Comcast has spoken about its own preparations to comply.

Charlie Kennamer, Comcast’s VP of Engineering, Standards and Industry Affairs, joked at the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) Cable-Tec Expo: “If you’re a cable operator and you don’t already know this stuff, you should be back home figuring it out.”  When the mandate enters effect on 1 July, all set-top box manufacturers and cable television operators will be obliged to produce and use set-top boxes that house CableCARDs, or removable security modules.  Comcast has previously requested a waiver on low-end, all digital set-top boxes with integrated security, thus far not granted, but expects to deplete its inventory of security-integrated boxes before the deadline: “If we don’t, we’ll have a bunch of bricks in inventory after July 1,” Kennamer added.

To minimise the operational impact, many cable operators are requesting that manufacturers mate the box and CableCARD before shipment.  “They [host set-top boxes and CableCARDS] do work…. Much in the same way as their predecessors did,”  Kennamer commented.  Cable operators are in general seeking waivers on low-end boxes with integrated security, and the extra components required in the host box and CableCARD module add around US$70 to $75 to total cost. 

Charter Communications is one of the few operators to secure a waiver so far, with the FCC citing Charter’s ‘financial difficulties’ in its decision to grant the request.  Meanwhile, other operators such as Jet Broadband are requesting deferrals which would allow them to deploy boxes with integrated security until they can obtain CableCARD host devices.