The US Federal Communications Commission is proposing to abolish the rule that connection to a cable television network must be via a cable boxes, suggesting that the boxes should be replaced by specially equipped televisions and video recorders into which a paperback-sized cartridge would be inserted in order to access the network and decode the signals. Current boxes get only one signal at a time and cannot be controlled by the tuner. The new cartridge would enable the user to tune a channel directly from one of the new receivers. The proposal would abolish the separate charge for cable boxes, but permit cable companies to build cartridge rent into their monthly charges.
