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FCC Seeks Comment on Motorola, Cisco, Thompson, and Pace Low-Cost, Limited-Capability Set-Top Box Certifications Comments

Due: June 26, 2009 and June 29, 2009

June 18, 2009
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The FCC is seeking comment on four set-top box waiver requests filed by Motorola, Cisco Systems, Thompson, and Pace Americas in accordance with procedures recently established in the Commission’s Evolution Broadband decision. In that decision, the Commission granted a waiver request for two set-top box models manufactured by Evolution Broadband pursuant to the “low-cost, limited-capability” standard set forth in the Commission’s 2005 Deferral Order, which provides relief from the “integration ban” prohibiting cable operators from placing into service navigation devices with integrated security functions if they meet the standard.

The Commission also adopted in the Evolution Broadband decision streamlined procedures for other applicants to seek waivers for low-cost, limited-capability devices similar to the Evolution Broadband devices. Specifically, if applicants can certify that their navigation devices are low-cost, limited-capability devices that are no more advanced than the Evolution Broadband DMS-1002 and DMS-1002-CA set-top boxes, the Media Bureau will initiate a 10-day public comment period regarding those certifications, after which it will take expeditious action with respect to the requests.

Motorola, Cisco, Thompson, and Pace all filed waiver requests pursuant to this streamlined process, certifying that the following set-top box models meet the established criteria:

Motorola: DTA-100 and DTA-100u
Cisco: Digital Transport Adapter 30, Digital Transport Adapter 50, and Digital Transport Adapter 70
Thompson: DCI104 and DCI105
Pace: DC50X and DC50Xu

Comments in response to the Motorola and Cisco requests are due June 26, 2009, while comments in the Thompson and Pace proceedings are due June 29, 2009. It is expected that additional manufacturers will seek general waivers under the Evolution Broadband standard.

We would be pleased to respond to any questions regarding this matter.