2b or not 2b? That is the Question….
August 2006 Issue Whether ’tis nobler in the headend to suffer the upstream limitations of a stopgap version of DOCSIS 2.0 (called 2.0b), or take up DOCSIS 3.0 arms against the telcos, and by opposing 2.0b, to end it? (OK, enough Shakespeare.) There’s been some debate this summer on the prudence of using the so-called DOCSIS 2.0b solution. An advantage is that it would increase high-speed data rates in the interim until 3.0 is ready. The disadvantage is that it could take away from 3.0’s development. Some cable execs at Cable-Tec Expo seemed to put the quash on 2.0b, expressing concern about 3.0 delays. “I don’t want us to take our eyes off 3.0,” said Charter Communications CTO Marwan Fawaz. Enter the eloquent Jay Rolls, Cox Communications VP, telephone and data engineering, who offered this comment to Communications Technology: “Whatever labels we apply to these solutions, whether it be DOCSIS 2.0b, 3.0, or Joe’s SuperFast Modems, the goal is the same: To have equipment in the short and long term that is interoperable and meets our competitive demands for faster and more robust IP delivery.” Adams Joins Tandberg
Tandberg Television appointed Michael Adams as VP of system architecture. He was previously VP of video architecture and technology at Terayon. He has also held senior positions at AOL Road Runner and Time Warner Cable. Cable Center Ups Satkowiak
The Cable Center promoted President Larry Satkowiak to the post of CEO. Satkowiak was formerly COO of The Cable Center from 2003 to 2005. Sparkman Joins Aurora
Aurora Networks announced that Michael Sparkman joined the company as VP of worldwide sales. Sparkman has more than 25 years of cable industry experience, including 17 years at ANTEC, now Arris, where he held several executive posts. Pillai Joins Bresnan
Pragash Pillai joined Bresnan Communications as VP strategic engineering. He was previously VP advanced engineering, digital video, at Charter Communications. At the 2004 SCTE Conference on Emerging Technologies, he was honored as Young Engineer of the Year. He joined Charter in 1999.
