Cable System Encryption | Federal Communications Commission

Cable operators with all-digital systems may encrypt their services. This lets cable operators activate and deactivate cable service without sending a technician to your home. If your cable operator chooses to encrypt its services, you will need a set-top box or CableCARD for every television set in your home on which you want to continue to view cable programming.

Why allow encryption?

Encryption of all-digital cable service allows cable operators to activate and deactivate cable service remotely, relieving many consumers of the need to wait at home to receive a cable technician when they sign up for -- or cancel -- cable service, or expand service to an existing cable connection in their home. In addition, encryption reduces service theft, which often degrades the quality of cable service received by paying subscribers. Encryption also reduces the number of service calls necessary for manual installations and disconnections.

What does this mean for cable subscribers?

If you are a cable subscriber, you should be aware:

If you currently rely on unencrypted cable service to receive broadcast channels from your cable operator (i.e., your digital television connects directly to the cable system without the addition of a set-top box or CableCARD), and your cable operator begins to encrypt, you will need a set-top box or CableCARD to continue to view those channels after your operator encrypts them.

If, at the time your cable operator begins to encrypt, you subscribe

Then you are entitled to

only to broadcast basic service and do not have a set-top box or CableCARD

a set-top box or CableCARD on up to two television sets without charge or service fee for two years from the date your cable operator begins to encrypt.

to a level of service other than broadcast basic service but use a digital television to receive only the basic service tier without use of a set-top box or CableCARD

a set-top box or CableCARD on one television set without charge or service fee for one year from the date your cable operator begins to encrypt.

only to the basic service tier without use of a set-top box or CableCARD and you receive Medicaid

a set-top box or CableCARD on up to two television sets without charge or service fee for five years from the date your cable operator begins to encrypt.

What if I subscribe to cable service after an all digital cable operator has commenced encrypting their service?

What does this mean for over-the-air television viewers and Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) subscribers?

Cable System Encryption Guide (pdf)

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Cable System Encryption | Federal Communications Commission