Genachowski Looks for Faster Cable Broadband Speeds as FCC Proposes to Change some Digital Cable Rules
The FCC “is doing its part” to help cable operators deliver faster broadband speeds and higher broadband capacity through a notice of proposed rulemaking and other recent actions that will lead to more efficient cable system operations, Chairman Julius Genachowski said at the commission meeting Friday. The NPRM will modernize cable signal quality and leakage rules that were designed for analog systems, the commission said. With the agency doing its part, “it is imperative that the operators do theirs and we see ongoing expansion of broadband speed, capacity and availability,” Genachowski said. He pointed to the commission’s recent DTV viewability order, the subject of a recent lawsuit by broadcasters opposed to it (CD Aug 3 p5), as another example of the commission helping cable system efficiency.
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The revisions to signal quality and leakage rules will help streamline compliance efforts of cable operators with digital systems, the commission said in a news release (http://xrl.us/bnjbhc). “The NRPM proposes a number of minor technical revisions and seeks comment on any other technical changes necessary to bring the Commission’s cable rules into the 21st century.” For QAM-based systems, the notice proposes to adopt a standard from the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, SCTE 40 (http://xrl.us/bnjbf3). “This standard is currently incorporated into our rules supporting unidirectional digital cable televisions and products and thus it is already followed by a significant portion of QAM digital cable operators,” said the rulemaking. “We believe that selecting an existing industry-developed standard and well-focused set of measurements for digital cable places little to no additional burden on cable operators yet will ensure that consumers receive good signal quality."
The notice asks how cable systems and other multichannel video programming distributors that use new technologies such as IPTV should be treated under the quality requirements, Jeffrey Neumann, a Media Bureau official, said during the meeting. The proposed rules primarily deal with QAM-based systems, he said. The signal leakage rules will help prevent interference with airline communications, the commission said.
All five commissioners approved and praised the item. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said the NRPM will give cable operators a standard of performance against which they can measure their signals while giving the FCC the means to make sure customers are receiving at least a certain level of service. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel also hit on the benefit the rulemaking proceeding could have to broadband deployment. The proposed changes “will promote efficiency and grow the possibilities of our communication infrastructure,” she said. Basic tier encryption is another area where the FCC could modernize its digital cable rules, Commissioner Ajit Pai said. “I stand willing to work with the chairman and fellow commissions on this and other matters that could bring our rules more fully in line with the times."
Genachowski said the FCC remains restricted in its ability to make “major reforms” to the retransmission consent system. “We have a proceeding we launched that looks at some potential changes in our rules that could benefit consumers,” he told reporters. “But as I've said, the fundamental framework for retransmission consent is something that was adopted by Congress, and our ability to make major reforms is quite limited.” The proceeding is still open and the commission remains concerned about consumers, he said. “We will continue to act within our authority.”