Abstract: An addressability system is provided for use in a communications network. The addressability system provides an interface between a billing system and a controller which is linked between a headend and a customer's converter. The addressability system receives a controller-generic command from the billing system and retrieves data from a data storage system in response to the controller-generic command. Based on the retrieved dated, the addressability system converts the controller-generic command to a controller-specific command and passes the controller-specific command to the controller to enable the controller to address the converter. The commands serve a number of functions including enabling a converter to decode a selected service or event for a selected time length such as the duration of the event.