The National Cable Television Cooperative and Comcast Wholesale have struck a multiyear renewal for the HITS National Authorization Service (NAS), including new provisions that will help co-op members use “universal” digital transport adapters.

Aimed at reducing costs for live and ondemand video as well as IP services, NAS is a centrally-managed conditional access and security platform for NCTC members that was originally launched in 1996. The architecture gives those operators an alternative way to purchase and operate headend management systems required for et-top boxes and interactive program guides, while also meeting Emergency Alert System requirements.

The new deal also extends central management of uDTAs, as well as a broad range of MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 set-tops and retail devices, such as TiVo DVRs, that use CableCard security modules.

Support for uDTAs, which can work on digital cable systems based on the Arris/Motorola or Cisco Systems platforms, could be a key addition for smaller operators that intend to use the one-way channel zappers to facilitate all-digital transitions.