DSTAC Still Divided on Industry Lines
Though the Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee had its shortest, least contentious meeting Wednesday, opposing letters to the FCC from its member groups (see 1505110060) and an after-meeting tech presentation that turned contentious show that the DSTAC is still divided along industry lines. While multichannel video programming distributors favor an approach that concentrates narrowly on downloadable security solutions, Google, Public Knowledge, TiVo and others want a more comprehensive product that promotes competitive third-party devices and user interfaces, they said in a letter Monday.
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The FCC acknowledged that divide with guidance on the body’s scope issued by commission staff: “We instruct the committee to make recommendations concerning both approaches -- an approach under which MVPDs would maintain control of the user interface and an approach that would allow consumer electronics manufacturers to build devices with competitive interface.” Though the approach seems intended by the FCC to promote consensus in the DSTAC, several cable industry officials told us they see the guidance as an indication the FCC favors the solution advocated by Public Knowledge and TiVo, which they say is a descendant to the AllVid proceeding. FCC Deputy Chief Technologist Alison Neplokh, who advises the DSTAC, was involved with the AllVid proceeding.
Several cable industry officials told us they disagree with DSTAC's direction. “I disagree with their definition of downloadable security,” said Steve Watkins, senior director-advanced video technology at Cox Communications. He said the committee was originally intended to have a narrower scope. The broader scope makes the DSTAC’s time frame, with a report due Sept. 4, “probably impossible,” said Beyond Broadband Technology’s Director of Strategic Communications and Development Steve Effros during the meeting’s public comment phase. He and Dish Network Director-Technology John Card suggested the DSTAC needs more time. DSTAC Chairwoman Cheryl Tritt said an extension was unlikely.
The DSTAC’s meeting was unusually free from bickering Wednesday. Afterwards, some industry tension was evident during a technical demonstration by DirecTV and TiVo of their set-top box and user interface technology. During TiVo Chief Technology Officer Joseph Weber’s demo of TiVo’s set-top, MVPD industry officials peppered him with questions about the company’s user interface and how it interacts with MVPD interfaces, and then disputed his answers. The preceding DirecTV demo didn’t draw the same challenges. Weber said the ability for customers to choose what UI they can use with a carrier’s product is “fundamental to the DSTAC.” MVPD officials told us they felt Weber wasn’t being upfront with how his retail box interacts with other companies' content.