FCC Recognizes Significant Consumer Benefits of SDV
BigBand Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:BBND), a leader in digital video
networking, today announced that it applauds the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)’s latest ruling to vacate its
Enforcement Bureau’s previous Notices of Apparent Liability for
Forfeiture and Forfeiture Orders relating to Time Warner Cable Inc. and
Cox Communications’ implementations of Switched Digital Video (SDV). The
FCC’s decision recognizes that there are “significant consumer benefits
of SDV deployment”. These include transmitting both analog and digital
channels without displacing substantial amounts of existing programming,
introducing new high definition channels and diverse programming, and
freeing up bandwidth for additional broadband technologies such as
DOCSIS® 3.0.
The FCC’s decision to reverse prior rulings indicates its understanding
of the importance and benefits of switched digital technology to improve
consumer choice and viewing experiences. These prior rulings were issued
last year against certain cable operators for moving channels from their
broadcast lineups to SDV groups. The ruling was based on the premise
that moving these channels made programming inaccessible to
non-operator-supplied devices. MSOs have worked with manufacturers to
develop adapters that allow unidirectional CableCard™-based DVRs and TV
sets to access switched digital video programming. MSOs plan to
distribute these to customers with CableCards in systems with switched
digital video.
“We applaud the FCC’s decision, which recognizes that SDV increases the
amount and quality of programming for consumers today,” said Amir
Bassan-Eskenazi, President and CEO of BigBand Networks. “The decision is
a realization that the potential of SDV is not only in bandwidth
expansion, but also in the industry’s ability to bring cost-effective
personalized video services to consumers on multiple screens.”
BigBand SDV has been deployed, or is being deployed, by seven of the top
10 cable operators in North America, passing more than 24 million
households today. The company's SDV solution helps operators optimize
the network spectrum needed for bandwidth-intensive services such as
HDTV and long-tail content. BigBand's SDV solution provides a path to
personalized television services by migrating seamlessly from multicast
to ultimately individualized, unicast delivery.
About BigBand Networks
BigBand Networks, Inc.
