Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!caip!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!vortex!lauren
From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein)
Newsgroups: net.news.adm
Subject: Stargate
Message-ID: <953@vortex.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 29-Aug-86 17:03:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: vortex.953
Posted: Fri Aug 29 17:03:26 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 30-Aug-86 21:32:59 EDT
Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles
Lines: 33

I just had another conversation with SSS regarding scrambling issues.
As I mentioned in my previous message, they are *not* thrilled about
scrambling.  A primary reason many advertiser-sponsored 
services are being prodded into scrambling is threats from
cable systems to drop them if they don't scramble.  It's these kinds of 
threats that Congress is investigating, by the way.

I did confirm three points:

1) The vertical interval data survives videocipher scrambling, at least
   when descrambled with the "commercial" decoders (which are slightly
   more expensive than the consumer decoders).  There is no reason
   to believe the consumer decoders will have any problems in this
   regard, though I'll be in a position to test this for sure with
   SSS shortly.

2) While pressure has been building for SSS to begin fixed-key
   scrambling testing in a couple of months (in fixed-key mode, anybody with
   a videocipher box can receive the video without specific addressing), there
   is no specific date planned at this point for addressable scrambling,
   which requires considerably more work to make operational.

3) I have been told again that the issue of data subscribers not
   being happy with the possibility of having to pay the same key rates
   as conventional WTBS viewers (even if those rates are relatively small)
   is understood and that all efforts will be made to deal with this
   issue in an appropriate manner.

Once again, I emphasize that these scrambling issues only affect
direct reception of SSS data via satellite receiver, NOT those
persons who would receive the data via cable systems.

--Lauren--