Cable Industry Responds Regarding HD TiVo Problems

Lauren Weinstein writes "The day after the issue of cable system incompatibilities with the new HD TiVo and similar devices was discussed on Slashdot, the cable television industry has responded with a workaround proposal in a new FCC filing, though key issues remain to be fully resolved."

Comments

Are cable companies trying to be cell carriers?

[swb]

You kind of get the feeling they want to own the network and the devices, which I guess is an appealing idea from a monopoly standpoint.

I'm curious, though, how much money they actually make on set top boxes vs. what has to be nearly constant breakage and wear and tear.

Re:Are cable companies trying to be cell carriers?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes. The cable companies would love to own the devices allowed on the network. That's why in 1996 the FTC ruled that they *have* to allow cable card standards to exist, so customers can use off-the-shelf set top boxes in the name of competition. Ten years later, and we still can only *barely* do this -- the cable companies have dragged their feet at every turn. It's frustrating.

Re:Are cable companies trying to be cell carriers?

[Jafafa Hots]

For about 100 years, the phone company wouldn't allow anyone to connect their own equipment to their network. You had to lease your phone. That ended around 1969, when the government ruled that they had to allow people to own their own phones, etc. They ruled this after a company called Carterphone sued... because they provided what was basically an acoustic coupler modem for people to use with their phones.

If it had gone the other way, there would be no internet as we know it. Sprint followed Carterphone, letting people "steal" long distance calls by paying them rather than ma bell.

Openness drives innovation, which creates new industries and technologies - which corporations then try to own completely and milk every last cent out of, while killing any competing technology.

It was a boon for AT&T to have a stranglehold on communications, they were the wealthiest company on earth. But it held technological progress back by decades. Hell, they didn't even introduce phones in colors other than black for over 50 years.

Re:A usb dongle does not work when TV don't have u

[Secrity]

TFA is specifically about TiVo, it does not address any other devices that may also be hosed.

TiVo is unique from most other CableCARD devices because it contains what is essentially a general purpose computer running Linux, it can be connected to the Internet, it is remotely programmable, and it has standard USB ports.

No apology is necessary.

Re:Does anyone remember when TV was simple?

[ConceptJunkie]

Now, with the addition of cheap postal rental of DVDs and the Internet, broadcast TV has a hard time competing for the time I have for entertainment.

And yet they insist on doing everything they can to further antagonize me. Random schedules, reality shows, more advertising per hour, advertisements _during_ the programs... I cancelled my satellite subscription years ago and with Netflix and my own personal collection (including The Simpsons, MST3K and plenty of other nerdy shows), I don't miss network TV at all.