[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 75809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29756]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Federal Advisory Committee Act; Downloadable Security Technical 
Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; intent to establish.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 
purpose of this notice is to announce that a Federal Advisory 
Committee, known as the ``Downloadable Security Technology Advisory 
Committee,'' is being established. This committee will report to the 
Commission about downloadable security for devices that access 
multichannel video programming services, as required by the STELA 
Reauthorization Act of 2014.

DATES: The first meeting of the Downloadable Security Technology 
Advisory Committee will take place no later than Wednesday, March 4, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on this 
proceeding, contact Brendan Murray, [email protected], of the 
Media Bureau, Policy Division, (202) 418-1573 or Nancy Murphy, 
[email protected], of the Media Bureau, 202-418-1043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 629 of the Communications Act, 47 
U.S.C. 549, directs the Commission to adopt regulations that will allow 
consumers to buy set-top boxes and other equipment that can access 
cable, satellite, and other multichannel video programming services 
(which the Commission refers to as ``navigation devices'') in lieu of 
leasing them from their providers. Section 629 also requires that these 
regulations respect the ``legal rights of a provider of such services 
to prevent theft of service.'' 47 U.S.C. 549(b). Pursuant to the 
regulations adopted under section 629, the cable industry has supported 
the hardware-based CableCARD standard to support consumer-owned 
equipment and prevent theft of service over the course of the past ten 
years.
    Section 106 of the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014, Public Law 
113-200 (2014), directs the Commission to establish an advisory 
committee ``of technical experts that represent the viewpoints of a 
wide range of stakeholders to identify, report, and recommend 
performance objectives, technical capabilities, and technical standards 
of a not unduly burdensome, uniform, and technology- and platform-
neutral software-based downloadable security system to promote the 
competitive availability of navigation devices in furtherance of 
Section 629 of the Communications Act.''
    The duties of the advisory committee will be to study and report 
findings and recommendations regarding a ``uniform, and technology- and 
platform-neutral software-based downloadable security system.'' STELA 
Reauthorization Act of 2014, Public Law 113-200, Sec.  106 (2014). The 
Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration 
concurs with the establishment of the advisory committee.
    This Downloadable Security Technical Advisory Committee will 
present its report to the Commission no later than September 4, 2015.

Federal Communications Commission.

Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-29756 Filed 12-18-14; 8:45 am]
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