[mythtv-users] Comcast Bay Area (95003) - 5c encryption on Firewire for PBS/Nova?

Robert McNamara robert.mcnamara at gmail.com
Thu Sep 17 23:50:05 UTC 2009


On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 4:45 PM, Chris Laplante <chrisla23 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Anyone else in the San Francisco Bay area noticed in the past month or
> so that it seems like 5c is turned on for "Nova" on PBS via Firewire?
> Is that legal?
>

Since they're not obliged to provide any programming to you via
firewire, yes, it's legal.  The regulation only states that the port
must be functional, but fails to delineate what functional.  Generally
speaking, allowing FireWire channel changing (and 5C'ing all video) is
in compliance with the regulation.  Yes, it's anti-consumer.

Before anyone jumps in and muddies the water, the "must carry" rules
do not apply to firewire, they apply only to QAM.  So yes, broadcast
channels must be in the clear over QAM, but then need not allow you to
record them via firewire.

Robert


More information about the mythtv-users mailing list