Other manufacturers followed with similar theft prevention systems, which have helped reduce smartphone theft.
Liberty is trying to buy several of Deutsche Telekom's biggest cable systems, which have 10 million subscribers.
One was retrofitted with special insulation, ground source heat pumps and other systems which have now become mainstream.
He added that he did not necessarily mind comparisons to Google's systems, which have raised awareness of automated driving worldwide.
A 1999 S.E.C. rule established a separate set of regulations for alternative trading systems, which have grown to 29, from 10 in 2002.
"We have been working to enhance our registration and notification systems, which have been above and beyond both the law and advocacy group guidelines," the company said.
The E.D.S. purchase also threatened the businesses of Sun and Cisco Systems, which have sold large amounts of equipment to E.D.S.'s customers.
He seems likely to embark on a major overhaul of the IT systems which have at times left customers unable to access their cash and bank accounts.
Spectrum Equity Investors, a private equity firm in Boston, and the cable entrepreneur Steve Simmons will buy the systems, which have about 80,000 subscribers, RCN executives said.
Also, the safety agency would establish standards on keyless ignition systems, which have become more popular on automobiles, especially hybrid-electric models like the Toyota Prius.
But supporters say it could provide additional incentive to make biogas systems, which have lagged behind other sustainable energy solutions, more commercially viable.
