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Here's the cable industry's counter offer to fix TV boxes
Earlier this year the FCC voted on a plan to fix crappy cable boxes. Dubbed "Unlock the Box," the plan would make cable companies open up their services for use on boxes made by other companies. Now, after a few months of complaining and poking holes in the FCC plan, the cable companies have a proposal of their own. Their offer consists of an "industry-wide commitment" to create HTML5-based apps for third party devices like phones, tablets and connected TV boxes. It was presented this week by representatives for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), AT&T/DirecTV, Comcast and others.
US telecoms try to kill net neutrality by blocking key rules
The big US telecoms are trying every trick in the book to kill net neutrality, and that includes some very specific tactics. AT&T, CenturyLink and multiple industry groups have sent filings to the FCC asking it to block specific procedures, not the neutrality rules themselves. They want to stop the Commission from both reclassifying the internet as a utility and implementing a standard that prevents providers from "unreasonably interfering" with your internet access. Purportedly, these moves would require "crushing" costs and might chill investments in network upgrades -- arguments we've definitely heard before.
More telecom groups sue to kill the FCC's net neutrality rules
It's clearer than ever that the US telecom establishment really, really doesn't like the FCC's new net neutrality regulation. AT&T and multiple industry groups (all from cable and phone businesses) have filed lawsuits trying to kill the new utility-like rules, claiming that they violate everything from procedural laws to the Constitution. In some cases, the language is eerily similar to the US Telecom Association suit that kicked things off -- the American Cable Association even rehashes language describing the measures as "arbitrary" and "capricious." However the organizations word things, the FCC is definitely going to find out whether its attempt to protect the open internet is as lawsuit-proof as promised. [Image credit: Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images]
Verizon won't fight net neutrality without a little help from its friends
You know that bit at the end of a movie where the defeated villain turns up in the hero's hotel room for some revenge killing? If you do, then you won't be surprised to learn that the telecommunications industry is gearing up to fight net neutrality. This time out, however, it won't be Verizon leading the charge. Instead, trade groups like the CTIA and NCTA will wade into the fight with arms flailing. According to Reuters, Big Red won't lead this battle to avoid "drawing any fire individually." Presumably the company worked out that if you're trying to stifle a law that ensures a free market, you might come across poorly in the public's eyes. Not that that's ever troubled Verizon before, mind. [Image Credit: Pete Marovich/Bloomberg via Getty Images ]
Cable giants don't like the FCC's push to redefine 'broadband'
You may like the FCC's proposal to upgrade the legal definition of broadband, but your internet provider probably doesn't. The industry's National Cable & Telecommunications Association has sent a letter to the FCC claiming that there's no real justification for bumping the legal definition of "broadband" to 25Mbps downstream and 3Mbps up. The lobbying group claims that advocates' arguments in favor of a speed-up "dramatically exaggerate" how much performance people typically need. Netflix may say that 25Mbps is necessary for 4K video streaming, for example, but the NCTA claims that only a "tiny fraction" of people use their service that way. The Association also wants to make sure that any change in broadband definitions won't have "regulatory significance" that makes telecoms step up their game.
Records reveal net neutrality chats between FCC and telecoms
It's no secret that the FCC has at least a few links to the communications companies it's policing. Chairman Tom Wheeler is a former lobbyist, and commissioners have taken industry jobs mere months after leaving office. However, Vice News has obtained records showing that the two sides are frequently in direct contact -- and there's a concern that this may be affecting the net neutrality debate. For example, Cisco CEO John Chambers called Wheeler to endorse proposed net neutrality rules earlier this year. To him, they encourage new business models without imposing "onerous regulation." Chief Comcast lobbyist Kathy Zachem, meanwhile, gave the FCC's top lawyer advance notice of Republican objections to the proposal. Wheeler has also spoken with other prominent figures on the topic, including former FCC chair (and now National Cable & Telecommunications Association head) Michael Powell.
Cable companies are reportedly funding fake consumer groups to attack net neutrality
The public wants net neutrality so badly that it broke the FCC's website. But can the weighty voice of the people combat well-funded astroturfing? VICE believes that the nation's cable companies are funding groups that pretend to represent consumers, but are actually just parroting their own stance to shout down the general public. For instance, the outlet has learned that Broadband for America, which describes itself as a coalition involving "independent consumer advocacy groups," and which counts senator John Sununu amongst its members, is actually funded by the NCTA -- big cable's lobbyists. It's the same situation with the American Consumer Institute, another anti-net neutrality voice of the people, which just happens to receive the bulk of its funding from the CTIA, which represents the US wireless industry. Now, what was the thing our grandma told us about astroturfing? Oh right: if you have to invent spokespeople to represent the other side in the debate, you're probably not the good guys.
FCC clarifies set-top box IP interface requirement and extends deadline to 2014
You may have not noticed, but your cable box at home has a Firewire port on it, designed to serve up content to other devices in your home. This almost useless port -- thanks DRM -- is a result of an FCC mandate that has been enforced for almost ten years. Due to the lack of use, the cable industry asked that the rules be updated to require an IP interface instead. That request was granted in the fall of 2010 and was supposed to go into effect this very month. Evidently two years wasn't long enough to find an acceptable industry standard stack to deliver video over IP, so TiVo and the cable industry requested an extension. The FCC let it be known last week in a Memorandum Opinion and Order that a single standard wasn't actually required, as long as the IP interface on the cable box used an industry standard -- the Commission did bless the DLNA Premium Video Profile as a suitable example. We'll have to wait and see if any other standards are in the mix, but regardless, TiVo and the rest of the cable industry now have until June of 2014 before every one of their boxes has to be able to deliver HD content to 3rd party devices like TVs, Blu-ray players and tablets via IP. In this particular context, TiVo is being treated as a cable company box supplier, although we're not sure how this will apply to its retail devices. Only time will tell if this mandate will bear fruit, but with any luck, the second time will be a charm.
FCC to allow encryption of basic cable, with a few strings that Boxee approves of
As you might expect, the cable industry has been taking measures to protect its business by asking the FCC to allow encryption of basic cable -- something that has never been done and that many have rightly opposed. The FCC responded by releasing new rules on Friday and while cable operators will be allowed to encrypt all its channels, it isn't without a few strings. The Boxee blog voiced its approval of those strings, which basically amounts to a requirement that when an operator encrypts, it also needs to make basic channels accessible via IP -- with or without some hardware in your home -- so that Boxee and others can still tune in. The other, less interesting stipulation, is that you might be entitled to at least one free set-top box or CableCARD for up to five years, depending on what package you subscribe to or if you are on Medicaid. The free hardware will only be for existing customers who apply within four months of when your provider rolls out the basic cable encryption. The real loser here are those few who actually use the Clear-QAM tuner in their TV, or perhaps those that use HTPC software that'll never get an update.
Congress to hold a hearing tomorrow on the Future of Video
If you're reading this, then you're probably always looking ahead at what technology might bring next. Tomorrow at 10AM ET, US Congress members of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will be doing that too. The specific segment of the market being discussed is video and on the docket to testify is a who's who of the video business. The old guard, NCTA and the MPAA, is being represented by Michael Power -- yes, the previous Chairman of the FCC -- and Michael O'Leary, respectively. On the other side are representatives from Dish Network, Sky Angel, Netflix, Roku and Public Knowledge. So yeah, this could get interesting. The NCTA has already starting posturing on its blog, Cable Tech Talk, with a post highlighting all the wonderful changes in the video distribution industry in the past 20 years -- however, curiously, the upwardly creeping price of the average bill wasn't mentioned. Of course a subcommittee hearing is just the first of a very long process towards real change, and while we'd be shocked if any of our ideas are implemented anytime soon, it's good to see some movement in Washington on a topic we care about.
Boxee and the NCTA debate if ClearQAM is good for us
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association and Boxee don't see eye to eye on whether or not ClearQAM is good or bad for us. Boxee argues that encrypting even those channels free and clear via an antenna, as a few cable companies have requested permission from the FCC to do, will increase your bill and limit competition. The NCTA alternatively claims that eliminating ClearQAM will enable self installs, thus reducing costs and truck rolls, because the coax outside your house will no longer need to be disconnected when you cancel service, and that Boxee should just adopt CableCARD if it wants the Boxee Box to access live cable TV -- of course most anyone who has had a CableCARD setup knows that a simple truck roll to connect a cable outside is child's play. While this struggle has played out in public with FCC filings, social media and blog posts, we all just fondly remember a day when setting up a TV was as simple as connecting a single coax cable and running a channel scan. Of course, it would be nice if the FCC would actually force more QAM to be sent in the clear and require accurate PSIP data while it's at it, but we gave up on that dream years ago.
Arris' cable technology teases us with 4.5Gbps download speeds
Think your cable connection's fast? Arris thinks it could be a lot faster. At today's NCTA Cable Show in Chicago, the company will demo a new system that can support download speeds of 4.5Gbps, and upload rates of 575Mbps. To achieve this, Arris devoted more of its DOCSIS 3.0 cable channels to broadband (128 downstream, 24 upstream), sourced through a C4 cable module (pictured on the left). Of course, this would leave less space for conventional TV channels, but we're guessing the accelerated streaming speeds would more than make up for it. Unfortunately, the prototype is still in the proof-of-concept phase, so it may be a while before you reap its benefits. Head past the break for the full PR.
TiVo announces plans for updated iPad app
Do you own a TiVo Premiere or Premiere XL box? And do you use the free TiVo iPad companion app as a remote control for that box? If so, you'll be happy to hear that TiVo has announced plans for an updated version of the app. While the update isn't available on the App Store at this time, it adds new features for cable partners who provide customers with branded TiVo boxes. The app will add the cable operator's Video on Demand service into search and browse, so TiVo users can easily pull up VoD content for viewing. The announcement, made today at the 2011 NCTA Cable Show in Chicago, did not provide details on when the new app version would be available. Show full PR text TiVo Enhances iPad App to Benefit Cable Operators New Version of TiVo's Companion Application Adds Operator's VOD Catalog and Integrates VOD Prominently Into the Overall Search Results CHICAGO, IL, Jun 13, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in advanced television services including digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced that it has enhanced its TiVo App for iPad to include new features tailored to its cable partners. Launched on the App store earlier this year, the TiVo App for iPad enables users to search, browse, explore and share their favorite entertainment all without interrupting what's playing on the television. Once found, the user simply "flicks" the selected content from the iPad to their TV screen. The new version of TiVo's companion iPad application automatically adds the operator's Video on Demand into the search and browse features within the App, allowing viewers to quickly find a TV program or movie and enjoy it on TV. The App also automatically detects and integrates the operator's branding, linear programming and VOD catalog when connected to a TiVo box provided by the operator. "Operators are constantly looking for new ways to connect with their subscribers," said David Sandford, TiVo's Vice President and General Manager of TiVo's service provider business. "The enhancements we have made to our iPad App help cable operators bring TiVo's innovative user interface directly into the hands of their subscribers, thereby offering consumers the ultimate remote control and viewing on demand experience. We have only just begun to refine our offering to the operator community and look forward to bringing additional elements to the TiVo iPad App." To learn more visit www.tivo.com/ipad. TiVo made this announcement during the 2011 NCTA Cable Show in Chicago. About TiVo Inc. Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) developed the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). TiVo offers the TiVo service and TiVo DVRs directly to consumers online at www.tivo.com and through third-party retailers. TiVo also distributes its technology and services through solutions tailored for cable, satellite and broadcasting companies. Since its founding, TiVo has evolved into the ultimate single solution media center by combining its patented DVR technologies and universal cable box capabilities with the ability to aggregate, search, and deliver millions of pieces of broadband, cable, and broadcast content directly to the television. An economical, one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment, TiVo's intuitive functionality and ease of use puts viewers in control by enabling them to effortlessly navigate the best digital entertainment content available through one box, with one remote, and one user interface, delivering the most dynamic user experience on the market today. TiVo also continues to weave itself into the fabric of the media industry by providing interactive advertising solutions and audience research and measurement ratings services to the television industry www.tivo.com TiVo and the TiVo Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. Copyright 2011 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1641565 SOURCE: TiVo
Sony, TiVo, NCTA and others chime in on CableCARD's replacement
The FCC has been unsuccessful in spurring competition in the set-top box market since Congress passed a law requiring changes in 1996. The current situation is exactly why we don't see some of our favorite companies making cable compatible devices -- remember when just about every electronics company made a VCR? CableCARD is a failure because, among other reasons, it is expensive to implement and requires the customer give up certain aspects of their service, like video-on-demand and guide data; on top of that it is a cable only solution and some people prefer satellite TV. And so after giving the market all this time to work out a solution, the FCC issued an Notice of Inquiry (NOI) in an attempt to devise a new mandate that would make give you as many options for a DVR as you have for something like a smart phone. An NOI is just one of the first of many steps on the way to new rules, but the comments do give us a great picture of where each party stands. Two sides are clearly forming with Sony, TiVo and the Consumer Electronics Association leading up one side and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), its members, and satellite providers on the other. To sum it up the consumer electronics companies make suggestions for an IP video gateway nick named AllVid, which they hope will bring consumers choice in both hardware and software without having to change providers or sacrifice features. And on the other side, they believe that things are just great the way they are and that innovation is happening. They go on to describe how the plans in the NOI will not only fail to spur innovation, but will actually be detrimental to providers and consumers. Then just for good measure, they explain why the FCC doesn't even have the authority to mandate such things. The entire thing is an interesting perspective into how the Executive Branch of our government works, and while it'll be some time before we are impacted by the outcome, we went ahead and laid out the highlights of a number of the comments after the break so you can play FCC commissioner at home.
A war of good and bad is raging before the FCC over CableCARD rules
A war has been raging in front of the FCC these past few weeks with judgment day coming later this year. The FCC wants to move beyond CableCARDs but wants to make the best of it for all those consumer who have already bought into the technology by making some changes to the rules in the interim. The battle isn't as fun or exciting as Jacob vs The Man in Black, but all the companies we love and hate are involved. Reading through the comments makes it very easy to see which companies consider us their customers and which know we have little choice but to buy their service. Basically TiVo and the rest of the consumer electronics industry supports the new changes while the NCTA, its members and suppliers think it is unnecessary because things are just fine the way they are. The biggest item of dispute is if Tuning Adapters are working or if a new solution is needed. On one hand the NCTA says they work just fine and on the other TiVo, the CEA and many individual commenters, say they don't and that a IP back channel would be more reliable, cheaper and easier to support. The only problem the NCTA does see with the current rules is that CableCARD host devices cost too much so the FCC should let them deploy cheaper boxes with integrated security -- we say let 'em do it, just as long as CableLabs starts certifying two-way 3rd party devices too. At this point the comment phase of the process is complete and we all have to wait for the FCC to announce when it'll vote one way or another -- although we expect the vote to happen this Summer if the FCC still intends to implement the changes this Fall. If you want to know who was saying what, click through for our interpretation of the comments.
CableCARD or AllVid, software choice is the key to innovation
Microsoft and Apple don't agree on much but one point they do agree on is software is key to the success of any consumer electronic device -- the FCC has admitted that CableCARD hasn't succeed at its intended goals, and is looking to a new solution, but if the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) has its way, AllVid will end up just like CableCARD. Kyle McSlarrow, the President and CEO of the NCTA, testified at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee meeting yesterday on the subject and the one point that shows they aren't ready to give in yet is that he said "Consumers should also have the option to purchase video devices at retail that can access any multichannel provider's video services through an interface solution offered by that provider." No Kyle, that isn't enough. The key to innovation in the set-top box space is giving consumers a choice of hardware and software. No one would choose to buy a TiVo or Media Center if it meant you had to use the same crappy interface your cable company's DVR uses. We understand that the cable operators don't want to become dumb pipe providers, but the truth is that's what's best for consumers. This is why Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and its why after 14 years the FCC desperately needs to bring the hammer down this time. Update: We received some clarification from the NCTA. Apparently in point number two, the word interface does not mean user interface, but at the same time the NCTA does believe that certain user interface screens should be required to be provided by the operator. The only example given was the VOD buy screen, which isn't a big deal in of itself -- unless of course the user interface depends on tru2way, then you can forget it.
Only 443,000 CableCARDs deployed into consumer's equipment
Here we are about five years after CableCARDs became available and only 443,000 of 'em have been deployed into 3rd party hardware -- you know, like a TiVo HD or a Windows Media Center Digital Cable Tuner. If you think that's a lot, think again, as that is barely 1 percent of the 41.5 million digital cable subscribers in the US. This was according to a report delivered to the FCC by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and really gives credibility to the CEA's claim that the technology is ineffective at its intended purpose. As consumers we know all too well why the currently implementation of the technology is worthless to the other 99 percent of cable subscribers, which is a combination of the fact that 3rd party CableCARD host devices are not privy to all the same features of the cable company's set-top -- like VOD and PPV -- but also because the cable operators do just about everything possible to talk you out of using them. Regardless of the reasons one thing is for sure, CableCARDs have not fulfilled the requirements set by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and the FCC needs to stop wasting time and get back to the drawing board.
The slow rollout of interactive TV
The rollout of tru2way and other interactive TV initiatives by the cable companies seems to finally be gaining some momentum, but while we've largely addressed our disappointment with the speed of adoption on the hardware side, the New York Times is questioning why we haven't (and likely won't in the very near future) seen more interactive software. In an age where everything has an app store, the fragmented nature of the cable systems and confusing interconnected platforms reduces the opportunities for developers to jump in, and though Comcast jumped out promoting its Yahoo! widget powered tru2way future, no solid timeline for availability leaves very little to look forward to.
Plenty of tru2way demos planned for The Cable Show in April
Yes, we were disappointed by the lack of tru2way at CES. Luckily, next month's The Cable Show should give a bit of a lift, with interactive program guides, games, chat, web browsers and more on display. Samsung is the most notable hardware name we noticed on the list, but with only set-top boxes, home networking and portability apps on the menu our question of when its compatible TVs may go one sale will likely remain unanswered. Check out the release for the full listing, whether 2009 is the year of tru2way or not should certainly be more clear once the show is underway from April 1-3.
Digital TV delay bill to ride again next week?
Just when you thought it was safe to rescan your channels, the DTV delay is back, as the L.A. Times reports it could be up for another vote, and pass, as soon as next week. Chairman of the House telecommunications committee Rick Boucher expects the issue to return next week, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is apparently looking for away to hold another vote soon. While we wait for that to sort itself out, the NTIA pegged the converter coupon backlog at 2.6 million (a number expected to swell to 3.27 million in tomorrow's report) people as it waits for existing coupons to expire, and additional funds from from the economic stimulus legislation.
