Under the BPDG plan, a digital television receiver would recognize flagged digital content and allow consumers to record it only in lower-quality analog form or encrypted digital form. The encrypted digital version would be intentionally disabled so, for instance, it would only be viewable on the recorder that was used to create it. Digital content can also be flagged, according to the BPDG, as permitting open copying.

But because consumers might not buy impaired receivers if given a choice, action by the FCC or Congress would be necessary to compel software and hardware manufacturers to recognize and abide by the "broadcast flag." Sen. Hollings has introduced a related bill that would restrict hardware and software that doesn't adhere to government-approved "standard security technologies."