ACA Seeks More Time for Compliance With FCC Home Networking Deadline

Argues that larger operators are at the head of the line for new tech

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/12/2012 6:36:42 PM

The American Cable Association has asked the FCC to give smaller operators extra time -- six months more -- to comply with a Dec. 1 deadline for cable HD boxes top meet an open industry standard for home networking.

TiVo and others have asked for waivers -- TiVo asked for 12 months, others as much as 18 months -- arguing that the time is needed to complete some of the compliance standards.

FCC rules require "cable operators to ensure that the cable-operator-provided high definition set-top boxes, except unidirectional set-top boxes without recording functionality, shall comply with an open industry standard that provides for audiovisual communications including service discovery, video transport, and remote control command pass-through standards for home networking" by Dec. 1.

ACA says that if the FCC decides to extend the deadline, smaller operators should have six months more than larger operators because its members will in all likelihood have difficulty obtaining complaint devices and software in time for the deadline because, if past is prolog, larger operators will have their orders filled first.

The National Cable Association has asked that if TiVo gets a waiver, it should apply to all supplier of set-tops.