CableCARD adoption hasn t really taken off and may now be replaced by a new technology. Or it may not. The Download Conditional Access System (DCAS) is a system which uses digital codes in microchips to prevent cable theft while facilitating access to the consumer s channel lineup and other cable services.

The NCTA has spent $100 million towards the development of security for set-top boxes, a good chunk of which has gone into this venture. However, development of the chips is taking longer than expected; the work has been going on for several years and still has a ways to go. The hope is to field test the chips by the middle of the next year and to see adoption of the system in 2009. If it works, the downloadable security system could replace the need for CableCARDS.
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