FCC to look into firms' use of customer data - Via Privacy : Tech news from CNET :
Staff at the Federal Communications Commission are expected to recommend that it review rules on how phone and cable companies can use customer information as they try to take business from each other, an FCC official said Friday.
The FCC enforcement bureau will recommend that the commission reject a complaint by cable operators charging that Verizon Communications violated the agency's customer privacy rules by using customer information to prevent them from switching their phone service to cable, an agency official said on condition of anonymity.
Beyond that, the enforcement bureau is expected to recommend that the FCC address more broadly the issue of "customer retention activities" by both phone companies and cable operators to make sure the rules apply equally to both, the official said. read more... »
FCC to cable: You must support analog TVs until 2012 - Published: September 12, 2007 - 12:39PM CT - Via arstechnica.
Cue the scary music. According to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, "If the cable companies had their way, you, your mother and father, or your next door neighbor could go to sleep one night after watching their favorite channel and wake up the next morning to a dark fuzzy screen."
Martin's talking about the digital TV transition that will happen in February 2009. While the federal government has worked out a plan to help buy digital-to-analog converter boxes for Americans who rely on over-the-air broadcasts and still have analog TV sets, the rules for cable operators were not finalized until yesterday. The FCC voted 5-0 to require that cable operators must continue to make all local broadcasts available to their users, even those with analog televisions. read more... »
Cable Industry to Standardize Under Tru2Way - Via Slashdot:
smooth wombat writes "In a move to stave off the FCC, cable operators have now agreed upon one standard to allow TVs and other gear that will work regardless of cable provider. This standard should allow the development of new services and features that rely on two-way communication over the cable network. read more... »
FCC Delays Vote On Cable TV Regulation - Via Slashdot:
Tech.Luver recommends a story unfolding at the FCC, where Chairman Kevin Martin delayed a vote on a report that would open the door to more agency control over the cable television industry. Analysts say that Martin lacked support to pass the measure. read more... »
TiVo: Comcast Deal Behind Schedule: "TiVo: Comcast Deal Behind ScheduleThe cable operator will offer TiVo's HD and non-HD recording features.By SwanniWashington, D.C. (October 9, 2007) -- TiVo CEO Tom Rogers says Comcast's rollout of its recording services is a 'little behind' schedule.That's according to an article by Reuters.Comcast was expected to begin offering TiVo's HD and non-HD DVR service to New England markets in August. The two companies announced the marketing partnership more than two years ago.But Rogers said today that Comcast is still testing the TiVo software in employee homes. read more... »
Schedules Direct - Replacement for zap2it's free TV listing service: Editor: Now that Zap2it has halted their free TV listing service, folks are looking for a new source of TV listings for the open-source PVRs. This site is run by the folks who gave you MythTV and are anon-profit trying to keep the costs low. read more... »
Lauren Weinstein's Blog: Important Warning Regarding New HD TiVo and Cable System Incompatibilities: You may have seen much (deserved) hoopla regarding the new relatively low-priced HD TiVo, that uses CableCARD technology to allow a direct interface between digital cable systems and the TiVo unit.
While it is generally understood that the current generation of these devices (this may well change within a year or two) cannot access two-way cable services such as Pay Per View (PPV) or Video On Demand (VOD), many potential buyers of this TiVo product may not be aware of concerns regarding the use of Switched Digital Video (SDV) on an increasing number of cable systems. read more... »
New HD TiVo and Cable Incompatibilities: "Lauren Weinstein writes 'The rapid deployment of Switched Digital Video (SDV) by cable companies can cause major problems for buyers of the new HD TiVo, preventing any access to some channels.'
(Read Original Article - Via Slashdot.)
FCC's Martin Supports 'A La Carte' Cable Plans - News and Analysis by PC Magazine: FCC chairman Kevin Martin expressed his support for a la carte cable programming in a letter sent to several minority groups on Wednesday.
Martin said his support of a la carte programming, a position that argues that consumers should be allowed to buy channels individually rather than as a bulk package, would actually assist poorer minority groups. He noted that a Nielsen Media Research study pointed out that an average cable subscriber was paying for 85 channels when in reality that consumer only watched 16. read more... »
FCC Head Supports Ala Carte Cable: "MikeyTheK writes 'PC Magazine Reports that Kevin Martin, chairman of the FCC, supports ala carte cable. In a letter to several minority groups on Wednesday, Martin said 'While I believe all consumers would benefit from channels being sold in a more a la carte manner, minority consumers, especially those living in Spanish speaking homes, might benefit most of all,'. read more... »