Part 18 deals with content protection. HDCP and DTCP content protection was briefly covered on the part of digital connectivity. The FCC approved the Broadcast Flag in November 2003 to limit the indiscriminate redistribution of digital broadcast content, a digital code embedded into a digital broadcasting stream would signal DTV reception equipment to activate the redistribution limit. The mandate was to take effect in July 1, 2005, it was overruled in 2005, and it seems to return stronger judging by some 4Q05 events. This regulation excludes digital devices not built with internal digital tuners, such as existing digital VCRs, DVD players, personal computers, etc; all existing equipment incapable of reading the broadcast flag, such as televisions, VCRs, DVD players, will remain fully functional.

The new rules still allow consumers to make digital copies of broadcast HD content; they are intended to prevent only the mass distribution over the Internet, and to encourage availability of 'high value content' on broadcast television by discouraging its migration to more secure platforms such as cable and satellite TV service, according to the FCC ("The broadcast flag protects consumers use and enjoyment of broadcast video programming, the flag does not restrict copying in any way").

The FCC announced on August 2004 their approval of 13 digital content protection technologies applicable in a transport-to transport and media-to-media basis. For example, under the protection conditions, content that is flagged may be subject to copy restriction and output-down-resolution when DTCP copy protection is applied over IEEE1394 (Firewire), and HDCP copy protection is applied over DVI/HDMI connections.

A comprehensive article about the subject of content protection can be found on issue #6 of the HDTVetc magazine, I provide a graphical representation of how all the rules would affect what content with each type of connection, and what is next.

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