CableCARD
digital cable smart card / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
CableCARD is a special PC Card device. It allows consumers in the United States to view and record digital cable television channels on digital video recorders and personal computers.
It is also done in television sets on equipment such as a set-top box not provided by a cable television company. The card is generally provided by the local cable operator, typically for a nominal monthly fee.
A 2020 FCC decision removed the requirement for cable companies to provide CableCARDs. However they are still required to provide consumer access options via "separable security".[1]