CED articles from March 2004

CED archives from March 2004

Have a drink-on me.(cable television vendors)
March 1, 2004... "Cable operators drive me nuts," complained my good friend E. Quipment Vendor, when we met at the bar after a particularly exasperating day. "What do you mean?," I asked naively, while sipping my beer. "Well," he sighed. "I mean, on one...

Changes in the VOD winds.(Upfront: latest news and insight)
March 1, 2004... It appears that not every VOD deployment is set in stone as some MSOs mull their upgrade plans. Adelphia Communications and Time Warner Cable are making some video-on-demand vendor changes in select California cities, but for markedly...

Arris prescribes Lithium to new MTA.(Upfront: latest news and insight)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Arris has launched a new embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) that houses Lithium-Ion batteries with enough juice to provide up to 20 hours of backup power. Arris noted that lightweight Lithium-Ion batteries are easier to replace...

LaJoie upped to CTO.(Upfront: latest news and insight)(Mike LaJoie promoted to chief technology officer)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Time Warner Cable has promoted Mike LaJoie to chief technology officer, a position that has remained unfilled for more than two years. LaJoie had been serving as the MSO's executive vice president of advanced technology since August 2002....

Cable's VoIP window 'limited'.(Upfront: latest news and insight)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Cable operators stand to make some real hay with IP telephony services... if they act fast, says Multimedia Research Group Inc., in a new study. If they take the IP bull by the horns right away, North American MSOs could double their base...

BSI provides 'cradle-to-grave' set-top support.(Upfront: latest news and insight)(Broadband Services Inc introduced new service )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Broadband Services Inc, (BSI) has launched a new service designed to help MSOs manage the lifecycle of their digital set-tops. The service, dubbed "CPEase," also aims to minimize the impact digital churn has on operating margins by managing...

Time Warner Cable launches voice division.(Upfront: latest news and insight)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... If recent deployments weren't enough proof that it's serious about getting into the voice game, Time Warner Cable removed all doubts with the launch of a division dedicated to residential telephone services. The new unit, Time Warner Cable...

RCN tags NDS for DVB system rollout.(Upfront: latest news and insight)(Digital Video Broadcast)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... After a trial run, RCN Corp. has launched a new video delivery system in its Chicago market using Digital Video Broadcast standard technology supplied by NDS Corp. The system, which went live Jan. 5, uses NDS' VideoGuard conditional access...

NCTI boosts call center training slate.(Upfront: latest news and insight)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... NCTI has added four new titles to its "AcSELLeration Series" of online training courses developed in partnership with Maher & Maher. The latest titles are designed to teach call center staffs how to sell advanced services including...

GCI targets dial-up subs with free broadband.(Upfront: latest news and insight)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Setting its sights squarely on dial-up Internet users, GCI of Alaska is offering free high-speed data access to customers who subscribe to specific bundies of video and voice services. GCI is offering its LiteSpeed cable modem service for...

N2 Broadband gets NCTC hunting license.(Upfront: latest news and insight)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... N2 Broadband has secured a multi-year deal with the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC) Io market its OpenStream video on demand platform to the organization's 6,500-member cable systems. The agreement gives N2 the green light to...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2004... In CED's 2004 Buyers' Guide, Lectro was incorrectly listed as part of Invensys Energy Systems. The Lectro brand and broadband power products (CPR, Ferro series and ZTT/Plus) were purchased by The Alpha Group in March 2003. Lectro can be reached...

Maximum influence.(usage of Betamax VCRs for TV show infringement)
March 1, 2004... The movie "Never Give an Inch" was the lesser-known of two 1970s films based on Ken Kesey novels ("One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" being the notorious one), but it's easily the more significant in cable industry history for two reasons. ...

Regulation resilient modulation.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... This past year, communications have been going back and forth between the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the subject of cable signal leakage and the impact on emergency...

Nathan W. Bachman music scholarship.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... On behalf of my family, I wish to thank many individuals for their condolences and support during these difficult weeks after our youngest son's accidental death in The Netherlands. It's been difficult to individually thank everyone that sent a...

Filling up on fiber.(growth of fiber to the premises sector)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2004... What a difference 12 months can make. At this time last year, the fiber-to-the premises (FTTP) sector was starling to look and smell about as exciting as last night's leftovers. The usual suspects--the independent telcos, municipalities and...

DVRs HD, bloom with new functions: multi-room capabilities expected to lead a new crop of equipment.(digital video recorders high definition boxes)
March 1, 2004... The cable industry's big push into digital video recorders will produce a new crop of set-tops ready for harvest in the coming year, giving MSOs their pick of new varieties heavy on high-def, but also sprouting multi-room networking functions...

Cable modems.(InDepth)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... CABLE MODEMS Highest DOCSIS cert. Company name Model level achieved Aastra Technologies HM200C 1.0 Ltd. HM201c...

Cable modem plus residential gateway.(InDepth)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... CABLE MODEM PLUS RESIDENTIAL GATEWAY Highest DOCSIS Company name Model cert. level achieved Ambit Microsystems U10C007 --...

Multimedia terminal adapters and embedded MTAs.(InDepth)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... MULTIMEDIA TERMINAL ADAPTERS AND EMBEDDED MTAs Highest level of DOCSIS Company name Model cert. achieved Ambit Microsystems U10C017 -- Arris ...

Cable modem termination systems.(In Depth)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... CABLE MODEM TERMINATION SYSTEMS This device manages access network resources for high-speed data and PacketCable services Highest Highest DOCSIS...

Packetcable network components.(InDepth)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... PACKETCABLE NETWORK COMPONENTS CALL MANAGEMENT SERVERS The CMS manages and maintains call state for VoIP services, and is composed of two elements: a call agent and a gate controller. ...

Opencable certified/qualified equipment.(InDepth)(CableCARDs)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... OPENCABLE CERTIFIED/QUALIFIED EQUIPMENT CableCARDs Designed to separate out the conditional access systems and encryption elements in OpenCable-based set-tops, televisions and other "hosts," the CableCARD is also a prime component...

U.S. HDTV deployments.(InDepth)(high-definition programming providers)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... U.S. HDTV DEPLOYMENTS MSO/Market HD programming providers Adelphia Communications Albany, N.Y Showtime, HDNet, HDNet Movies ***** Bangor, Maine NBC, PBS, Showtime, HBO,...

North American VOD deployments.(InDepth)(Video On Demand)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... NORTH AMERICAN VOD DEPLOYMENTS Service operator Launch Video market date server vendor Adelphia Bethel Park, Pa. April 2002 SeaChange ...

North American residential cable telephony deployments and trials.(InDepth)(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... NORTH AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL CABLE TELEPHONY DEPLOYMENTS AND TRIALS MSO/market CBR/VoIP Adams Cable Service New York and Pennsylvania VoIP systems Advanced Cable...

Maximizing revenue opportunity in the metro: an integrated, intelligent, application-aware architecture.(Fiberline: fiber optic technology)
March 1, 2004... Changing service provider business models and entrepreneurial advances in optical technology are defining the networks of the future. Service providers are eager to push business models that will drive profitability and are deploying...

Peering beyond MPEG-2: new codecs beckon, but legacy problem lingers.(Networking: advanced networking technology)
March 1, 2004... With HD and video-on-demand starting to load up cablers' spectrum, the industry is starting to look beyond tried-and-true MPEG-2 to advanced codecs able to pump out better sound and pictures at lower bit rates. But while many technical minds...

PacketCable: building a cable's IP future.(internet protocol, network architectural devices)
March 1, 2004... Network-based Call Signalling (NCS) Architecture The NCS architecture places call state and feature implementation in a centralized component, the call management server, and places the device control intelligence in the Multimedia Terminal...

Plug-and-play for the headend: what is ISA, and how does it facilitate the roll-out of interactive services?(Broadband: business and news perspective)
March 1, 2004... Time Warner Cable was able to deploy video on-demand in 30 of its divisions starting in 2002 in less than a year, despite having to integrate three different VOD vendors, three different billing systems, and two different application software...

Business-on-demand.(In the loop, cable industry)
March 1, 2004... The popular notion for many businesses right now is that you have to be "out there" to get noticed with the barrage of information that assaults everyone from all angles-through the mail, e-mail, television, Web sites, wireless, etc. I think...

Fighting back and gaining ground: Mike Lee and Rogers Cable attack the competition with advanced services.(Broad band: business and news perspective)(Interview)
March 1, 2004... Canada's Rogers Cable, like its U.S. brethren, 23 facing competition from the sky and on the ground. Even Shaw Communications has gotten into the act with a DBS service called Star Choice. Despite the competitive onslaught from telephone...

Assigning liability for spam: how service providers can avoid taking the fall.(Broadband: business and news perspective)
March 1, 2004... The new "CAN-SPAM" (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act) bill, recently signed into law by President George Bush, is the first federal law to establish stringent regulations over the trans mission of...

Cable jumper assemblies.(new products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- PPC has announced a new line of SimplEX Jumper Assemblies designed to reduce one cause of repeat trouble calls-loose indoor connections. The new jumper assemblies all utilize the company's SimplEX Connector Sleeve, which...

Micro fiber cable blowing machine.(new products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... TREVOSE, Pa. -- General Machine Products Company Inc. (GMP) has introduced the "Breeze" micro fiber cable blowing machine. The Breeze will move micro fiber cable of 0.1 to 0.315 inches (2.5 to 8.0 mm) diameter at speeds to 164 feet (50m) per...

Digital coax for HDTV.(new products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. -- Genesis Cable Systems has introduced its new Type 5361, a 3 GHz digital coaxial cable featuring a precision-drawn, 18 AWG bare copper conductor with gas-injected foam dielectric, a 95 percent tinned copper braid, and...

Option for Ethernet/IP Test Systems.(Test Equipment)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... RICHARDSON, Texas -- Anritsu Company has announced its MD1230A-20, a traffic monitor option that allows its MD1230A family of Ethernet/IP Test Systems to conduct accurate analyses of streaming traffic such as video/IP and voice/IP. ...

Plug 'n' play 'n' audio.(capital currents)
March 1, 2004... You remember the Plug & Play (P&P) Agreement, don't you? The cable industry and the consumer electronics industry agreed on a memorandum of understanding that included "encoding rules" which define copy protection procedures for valuable...