CEA Files Report With FCC On Compatibility Between Digital Cable Systems And Consumer Electronics

Nominal Progress Attributed To Lack of Commitment By Individual Cable Companies

12-Nov-01

Action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is needed to ensure American consumers will experience the full benefits of digital cable systems and the most advanced designs in digital consumer electronics equipment, according to a semi-annual report filed by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). CEA filed in response to the FCC's requirement for a report on progress in implementing the February 22, 2000 agreements made between CEA and the National Cable Television Association (NCTA), regarding compatibility between digital cable systems, digital television (DTV) and other consumer electronics equipment. The first 2001 semi-annual report was filed by CEA in May.""CEA has little good news to convey to the Commission regarding cable compatibility,"" CEA reported. ""CEA members remain unable to design or build any product with minimum competitive functionality for direct operation on a cable system and CEA remains concerned about the lack of commitment by individual cable providers to implement industry standards.""The February 22, 2000 agreements detailed the technical specifications that will enable consumers to receive DTV programming and services over digital cable systems. They also provide for the carriage of program and system information protocol (PSIP) data on cable systems to support on-screen guide functions in digital receivers. Subject to certain conditions, PSIP data enables features such as on-screen program guides, virtual channel tables, program name and description (for a minimum 12-hour period) and content advisory information.CEA reported in the filing that, rather than supporting the open standards process, cable MSOs continue major infrastructure upgrades to facilitate the delivery of enhanced electronic program guides based on proprietary technologies. Because no final standard has been completed for the point-of-deployment (POD) host device, manufacturers are unable to build compatible products for sale in a competitive marketplace. Additionally, ""unless cable operators agree to provide complete PSIP data, consumers will be either forced to use the cable provider's subscription guide, or be unable to effectively channel surf with a remote control. This would impose a severe and unacceptable limitation on DTV functionality and consumer choice.""CEA has long argued that another major obstacle to compatibility is the cable industry's desire to implement onerous copyright provisions as part of the POD-Host Interface or ""PHI"" license that manufacturers must sign in order to build cable compatible products. The provisions would limit home recording rights, control market entry of new consumer electronics equipment and functionalities, compromise manufacturers' intellectual property rights and threaten the continued interoperability of legacy equipment now in American homes. CEA reported again today that the limitations on normal and customary home recording practices that would be imposed by the PHI license would significantly chill consumer demand for DTV products.""With more than two-thirds of U.S. households receiving television programming via cable, cooperation from the cable industry in the spirit of the February 22 agreements is imperative for the transition to digital television,"" CEA said. ""CEA remains ready and willing to cooperate with NCTA to update the February 22 technical agreement, which now is largely obsolete."" CEA has continued to do its part to advance the DTV transition through an open, accredited standard setting process even in the absence of an effective inter-industry consultative mechanism. The association has drafted five standards related to cable compatibility and CEA groups have shown that they remain ready to accommodate cable's ongoing revisions of relevant Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) DVS standards to ensure standards harmonization. In its call for FCC intervention, CEA said in conclusion that, ""expeditious solutions are needed to allow American consumers to purchase products that seamlessly interoperate with cable systems. The current situation not only suffocates the market for products such as set-top boxes, but also stalls the crucial transitional market for DTV receivers that could interoperate with cable systems -- products that, if available, could significantly accelerate the DTV transition."" For more information about the CEA, visit www.ce.org.

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