
Chalk
another one up for the FCC, as its chairman Kevin Martin slapped down Comcast's waiver to continue deploying specific Motorola, Scientific Atlanta, and Pace Micro Technology set-top boxes right on through the July 1 deadline. Contrary to the wishes of the cable provider, the FCC showed no mercy, and continued to insist that customers should be issued a new
digital STB with CableCARD slots as scheduled. The cable provider stated that it would "seek full Commission review," and if that didn't work out, it just might clash with the Federal Communications Commission in court.
Comcast claims that the costs to implement such a change, in addition to eventually
phasing out all analog transmissions, places an unfair burden on the consumer (of all people), and even proclaimed that the rejection of the waiver would mean that "millions of American consumers won't have the opportunity to enter the age of digital television easily and affordably." Although the ruling has been made, the
FCC will very likely be hearing from Comcast again regarding the issue, and also has eight
other cable / telecommunications providers to deal with that have filed similar requests, which it probably doesn't think is very Comcastic at all.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
andy @ Jan 12th 2007 12:33PM
To vote in favor the American people and against the mega-Corp means one thing in politics:
These guys must be stuck with cable for quite some time while Verizon is getting around to rolling out FIOS in their areas.
L J @ Jan 12th 2007 5:49PM
Did you not read this story? The cost to deploy all new cable card ready cable boxes by the deadline would kill the smaller cable company and only necessitate their (the small cable companies) sale to the "mega corp." Comcast. Is that what you want? Or how about the cost for Comcast. Do you not think that the cost of the new equipment might raise our already ridiculous cable rates?!? I am with Comcast on this one. As should be any rate conscious consumer. I for one do not wish to pay for the "future" as governed by the FCC.
Mike D @ Jan 12th 2007 7:37PM
if I had said VoIP I'd understand but due to the fact that I spelled out V I D E O over IP I don't really understand why you felt it was important to correct me other then the idea that you may just like to correct people.
Mike D @ Jan 12th 2007 7:21PM
yaaay for cable card .. now we also need one for video over ip. The network card that's used to receive tvguide could be used as the voip receive then everything could be one piece
Mike Botros @ Jan 12th 2007 4:06PM
VoIP is voice over IP. video is usually refered to as IPTV.
Siva @ Jan 14th 2007 3:53AM
I believe cable card boxes like Sony DHG-HDD250 already works with Verizon FIOS. Check the Sony DHG-HDD250 thread in AVSforum and you can see some people doing it.
Eric T @ Jan 24th 2007 12:26PM
People don't realize that Verizon has to do this as well. The law applies to QAM transmission. Verizon is using QAM transmission over fiber for now before they roll out full TV over IP transmission, so Verizon will have to put out CableCard boxes too. I'd like to see what the FCC does for Verizon and for the cable companies.