Dear Kev
The ongoing saga over the FCC’s set-top integration ban continues, with Comcast’s Brian Roberts penning a letter to FCC chmn Kevin Martin Mon to assure him that the MSO is moving to all-digital as quickly as possibly. Comcast has requested that low-end set-top boxes be exempt from a July 1 deadline that requires all newly deployed boxes to have a CableCARD. Roberts stressed that such a waiver would help with the move. He also made a concession on Pace’s "Chicago" box, which Comcast asked be included in the waiver. Sony claims Pace’s box does not qualify as lowend because it contains a USB port that could be used for home networking. Comcast doesn’t believe the Chicago box has advanced, higher-end capabilities, but Roberts said the MSO would be willing to limit the waiver to set-tops without USB ports if it would lead to timely approval. The FCC could later grant express approval for specific boxes.