US Cable Support > Comcast Cable TV > Say goodbye to ClearQAM

reply to telcodad

Re: Say goodbye to ClearQAM

I may be confused, but when you said, "so my area won't have to worry for several years" I thought you were saying that since your system still has analog (basic-tier?) channels, then your cable company will still be required to provide Clear QAM basic-tier digital channels.

But the current restriction is only for 100% digital systems, so that currently, those mixed analog/digital systems have been allowed to encrypt all their digital channels and do not have to provide any in clear QAM right now.

OK, I didn't realize that. Thanks for clearing that up for me!

EDIT: I found this old Multichannel News article about the "Dual Must-Carry" order by the FCC that you cited: »www.multichannel.com/article/827···ears.php

However, this recent article says the FCC is now allowing the order to sunset this December: »www.multichannel.com/article/485···rder.php

Quoting from this article:

The Federal Communications Commission made it official Tuesday [June 12th], releasing the final order sunsetting this December its requirement that cable operators with hybrid analog/digital systems deliver must-carry TV stations in both formats.
:
Cable operators must still provide dual carriage for a six-month transition period and give customers 90 days of warning before they end their analog transmissions. They also face potential reinstatement of the analog signals if there are too many consumer complaints.

reply to ViRGEdx
Same here for Saratoga, CA. I have our basic cable connected directly to a digital TV in a bedroom; it receives basic channels now. Comcast wants me to rent a converter at $8.75/month and a digital adapter for $1.99/month. For the few times that we use that TV, could I just buy a digital converter box for about $40 and connect it between the cable and TV?

OK, thanks for the quick reply.

Since we live in a densely populated area (SF Bay Area), how about using a digital antenna to put on my roof mast (which is now really useless) and connect it directly to the bedroom TV--just to pick up OTA digital signals--since it is a digital HDTV? (I think I could get a good outdoor digital antenna for about $60.)

Well first, there is no such thing as a "digital antenna" per se...ANY TV antenna - as long as it's made for the frequency of the TV station(s) you want to pick up (VHF &/or UHF) - will work on the digital OTA signals. (ignore the advertising hype about "antennas specially made for digital TV)

But have you stopped to think about all the trouble you're really going thru, just to NOT have to pay that $2/month extra for that DTA?
(BTW, you should have previously gotten 2 FREE DTA's that come as part of your digital pkg )

You're now looking to spend approx $100 (your costs you've spoken of - & that's assuming you plan on installing it yourself) to put up this antenna/converter box deal. For going thru all this trouble, it WILL take you over 4 years of saving that $2/month DTA charge, for the payback on that purchase. (not to mention the fact you will only get OTA signals on that TV)

Seems kind of silly to me...but whatever blows your dress up...

Comcast Said Near U.S. Approval to Encrypt Basic-Cable Signals

Cable companies led by Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) are close to winning U.S. permission to start encrypting basic- tier signals, two regulatory officials said, in a move to fight theft and reduce service calls.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has asked fellow commissioners to lift an encryption prohibition in place since 1994, the agency officials said yesterday. They asked not to be identified because the request hasn’t been made public.

The agency last year proposed allowing encryption following requests from companies, including New York-area provider Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC) and closely held RCN Telecom Services Inc.

Almost one-fifth of 134 households whose cable connections were cut off by RCN during an audit in Chicago last year subsequently contacted the company to subscribe, “clear evidence that they had previously been viewing cable without paying,” the company told the FCC in a filing last year.

Cablevision found that, when it encrypted basic service under a waiver from the FCC, it almost eliminated the need to send crews in trucks to disconnect service, the Bethpage, New York-based company told the agency in a filing.

“Cablevision’s experience proves the environmental benefits of eliminating the encryption prohibition,” Cablevision told the agency.
Digital Signals

Encrypting the basic tier would let Comcast start and stop service remotely, which customers prefer to scheduling an appointment with a technician, Philadelphia-based Comcast said in a filing at the FCC.

RCN, based in Herndon, Virginia, said in a filing it was seeing rising levels of theft as cable systems replace analog service with digital signals that are easier to steal.

Television sets with modern tuners can receive the unencrypted basic-service package which is sent in digital format and includes local broadcast stations.

Cable companies already encrypt offerings on the more expensive programming tiers that aren’t regulated by the FCC and include a wider array of channels.

The FCC prohibited encryption at a time cable dominated the pay-TV market, so customers wouldn’t need a set-top box to view local stations. The requirement doesn’t hold for satellite providers DirecTV (DTV) and Dish Network Corp. (DISH) or for cable competitors such as TV services offered by AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Communications Inc.
Free Service

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association in 2004 estimated that about 5 percent of homes near cable lines accessed service without paying, resulting in almost $5 billion in lost revenue. That was more than 8 percent of industry revenues that year, according to a filing at the FCC by the Washington-based trade group. The organization’s members include the biggest U.S. cable operator, Comcast, No. 2 provider Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC) and Cablevision.

Genachowski’s proposal includes methods for third-party equipment makers such as Boxee Inc. to relay unscrambled basic programming to customers, the two officials said. Boxee had expressed concern its customers wouldn’t be able to access basic-cable TV channels.

Genachowski’s proposal faces a vote and no deadline for action at the five-member agency where he is part of the 3-2 Democratic majority. Neil Grace, an FCC spokesman, in an e-mail declined to comment.

»www.businessweek.com/news/2012-0···-signals

According to an item in yesterday's news roundup article on the Light Reading Cable site (»www.lightreading.com/document.as···lr_cable), the FCC is expected to cast its vote on whether to lift the basic-tier encryption ban "within weeks."

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) also sent this letter to the FCC that contains a proposed notice that cable companies would use to inform customers of the change: »apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?···22017168

reply to andyross
lowers risks for non-payment shutoffs, I know there are neighborhoods in North Philly I would not want to pull someone's cable if I where a tech.
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

reply to telcodad
The latest update on the FCC's sunsetting of its "Viewability Rule" (aka the "Dual Must-Carry" order - the requirement that cable operators with hybrid analog/digital systems deliver must-carry TV stations in both formats - »www.multichannel.com/content/fcc···ty-order ):

Court Won't Block FCC Viewability Rule Decision
Denies broadcaster request for a stay pending resolution of appeal
By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable - September 24, 2012
»www.broadcastingcable.com/articl···sion.php

reply to andyross
OK, looks like this is the end of Clear QAM now:

FCC Votes to Lift Ban On Basic Tier Encryption
Contains three-year sunset on NCTA commitment, but with Media Bureau able to extend it.
By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable - October 12, 2012
»www.broadcastingcable.com/articl···tion.php

EDIT: The order and statements from the Commissioners can be found here: »www.fcc.gov/document/commission-···hibition

reply to patryan9

reply to andyross
This is really a bad thing for consumers. Encryption doesn't improve service, does it? When I was helping my in-laws with a DTA, the PQ was horrendous (like going back decades) as compared to what the ClearQAM signals had looked like.

reply to telcodad
An article on the SlashGear site today with some details on how things will work now:

FCC cuts Boxee a little encryption slack (but not forever)
By Chris Davies, SlashGear - October 15, 2012
»www.slashgear.com/fcc-cuts-boxee···5251887/

EDIT: Also an article on the Light Reading Cable site:

Cable Cleared to Encrypt Basic TV Tiers
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - October 15, 2012
»www.lightreading.com/document.as···d=225922

EDIT 2: An article on the CED Magazine site:

FCC relents, lifts basic tier encryption ban
By Brian Santo, CED Magazine - October 16, 2012
»www.cedmagazine.com/news/2012/10···tion-ban