An apparatus for default encryption of content for distribution, consistent with certain embodiments, has a conditional access system. A conditional access management system communicates with and manages the conditional access system. A memory stores default encryption information for use by transmission equipment containing content encryption capability to encrypt certain content upon a communication failure between the content encryption system and the conditional access management system controlling it. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract without departing from certain embodiments of the invention.