I ran across this article yesterday http://www.missingremote.com/news/2012-07-03/boxee-and-comcast-reach-agreement-develop...asic-cable-cha
It is good news and bad news. The good news is obvious, but the bad news is that it is more likely that most US cable subscribers will loose all clear QAM local channels in the near future.
Currently, US cable operators must provide local broadcast channels unencrypted unless they obtain a waiver from the FCC. (The FCC has granted waivers in the NYC metropolitan area and some others.) The cable industry has been trying to change that regulation for a few years so they can encrypt all digital service. The consumer electronics industry has been fighting against it, but now it looks likely that their opposition is probably going to end. The regulation is under review by the FCC and apparently the FCC chairman is not opposed to eliminating it. http://www.multichannel.com/article/477203-NCTA_to_FCC_Let_All_Digital_MSOs_Encrypt_Basic_Tier.php
I am not looking forward to explaining to my parents that they have to either pay Comcast $10 a month to watch the same HD local channels they currently have for free with their SD subscription using the TVs clear QAM tuner, or connect some rabbit ears to the TV.
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Last edited by usually_quiet; 5th Jul 2012 at 11:14.
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