Lack Of Final Standards Is Obstacle To Cable-Compatible DTV

CEA Urges FCC Action

4-Dec-00

In its status report to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding cable compatibility agreements between the consumer electronics and cable industries, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) stated that manufacturers are unable to build cable-compatible digital television (DTV) receivers because of incomplete cable industry standards. According to the statement submitted to the FCC, the cable industry has yet to complete a number of essential standards, including that for the pod-host interface. CEA also expressed concerns about the cable industry's implementation of its February commitment regarding provision of program system information protocol (PSIP) data.The point-of-deployment security module (POD) will allow consumers to access cable services without the use of a set-top box, using a security card supplied by their cable provider. CEA indicated that because the cable industry has not finalized standards for the POD, manufacturers are unable to build sets that incorporate this technology. In addition, the POD demonstrated by CableLabs is not capable of descrambling programming while supporting electronic program guides and other essential functions in the television receiver.CEA also expressed concerns about the cable industry's progress on commitments to pass through PSIP information to cable-compatible DTV receivers. PSIP information is necessary to allow for the operation of electronic program guides (EPG's) and channel tuning features built into television receivers.CEA cautioned that cable development and interpretation of proprietary protocols and technologies was rapidly outpacing the development of open standards. CEA warned that the cable industry may have powerful economic incentives to maintain exclusive control over the electronic program guide and other features that until now have been exclusive to the cable-supplied set-top box.CEA urged the FCC to promote an inter-industry standards process and set firm timelines for cable completion of specifications necessary for interoperability. In addition, CEA asked the Commission to incorporate the completed compatibility standards into its rules.""Half of all cable viewers prefer to connect televisions directly to their cable systems without the need for a set-top box. We urge the cable industry to finalize standards that manufacturers can build to as soon as possible, so that American consumers can enjoy the full benefits of cable compatibility,"" stated CEA Vice President of Technology Policy, Michael Petricone. ""In addition, cable must move forward on PSIP implementation so that consumers can make full use of all their DTV product's features.""For more information about the CEA, visit www.ce.org.

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