Thread: AT&T: No Need For FCC Set-Top Waiver

AT&T: No Need For FCC Set-Top Waiver - 7/5/2007 2:54:00 PM - Multichannel News

Telco Says IP Network Isn’t Covered By Integrated Set-Top Ban
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 7/5/2007 2:54:00 PM

Washington – AT&T didn’t seek a set-top box waiver from the Federal Communications Commission because the company claims that its Internet Protocol video-delivery technology isn’t covered by the law that forced traditional cable operators to discontinue deployment of integrated set-top boxes on July 1.

AT&T spokesman Mike Balmoris said that because the company’s U-verse pay-TV service didn’t use cable set-tops that contain both channel surfing and signal security features, it didn’t need a waiver.

“The intelligence that this ban is seeking to separate doesn’t reside in our set-top box. It’s in our network,” Balmoris said. “We beam one channel at a time into your home, like when you download a Web page.”

On July 1, the FCC barred cable companies without legal waivers from issuing integrated set-top boxes. Going forward, they need to deploy boxes that rely on CableCards as their anti-signal-theft technology.

The FCC granted dozens of waivers on June 29, especially to providers that promised to be all-digital by Feb. 17, 2009. Verizon received a waiver for low-end, two-way boxes until Dec. 31, 2009 and for high-end HD/DVR boxes until July 1, 2008.

The FCC said the high-end waiver was necessary because CableCard-enabled boxes haven’t been made for video operators that rely on IP technology.

Since AT&T U-verse is an IP-based system, it also was covered by the FCC’s June 29th order, Balmoris added.

“It’s not just AT&T U-verse. It’s all IP video, which includes, of course, AT&T. We are not the only IP (provider),” Balmoris said.

FCC spokeswoman Mary Diamond said the FCC didn’t issue AT&T a waiver.

“You need to request a waiver to be granted a waiver,” Diamond said.

Why have a deadline in place if they are just going to issue waivers like they are going out of style??

Yeah agree! But either way looks like rates could be going up for both parties.

Again, why did you start 4 threads on the same story?