Plug & Play

Verizon‘s urging the FCC to reject both NCTA and CEA‘s proposals for 2-way plug & play. While CEA’s plan is less objectionable to the telco, “both share the same fatal flaw: they rely on cable-centric technology that is not compatible with any video providers than traditional cable incumbents,” Verizon said in comments filed this week. The telco was granted a 1-year waiver to the Commission’s set-top integration ban for HD/DVR boxes after it argued that an existing, off-the-shelf CableCARD option, like the one traditional cable ops are using to comply with the ban, doesn’t currently exist for it. Verizon’s asked the FCC to extend the waiver for 3 years, but in the meantime, its working with the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions—an accredited standards-setting body—to build upon existing CableCARD tech for IP video providers. As for 2-way plug & play, NCTA is pushing an OCAP plan. CEA is touting “Digital Cable Ready-Plus,” calling on the FCC to create a specification and licensing framework that builds on the 1-way framework and is compliant with existing rules.