CableLabs has awarded OpenCable™ Certification Board's qualified status to a point-of-deployment (POD) removable security module from Scientific-Atlanta.

POD modules are critical element in enabling manufacturers and retailers to engage in retail sale of interoperable navigation devices, such as set-top boxes and integrated digital television sets, says a Cable lab release.

POD enables a device to decode encrypted or scrambled content that crosses the POD-host interface. A host may be a set-top box, an integrated digital television receiver or any other digital device.

The certificate is a therefore a great accomplishment for cable industry in its move toward retail availability of digital devices.