EchoStar Targets Plug-and-Play at Commission

[Gregg Lengling]

EchoStar has taken issue with the plug-and-play agreement reached between cable and consumer electronics interests last year, a deal that led the Federal Communications Commission to adopt recommendations from the two industries for rules addressing compatibility between cable systems and consumer electronics.

In a filing EchoStar sent to the FCC this week, the company specifically took issue with CableLabs' role in determining compatibility issues for consumer electronics and content protection technologies. "As the self-described consortium that is dedicated to helping its cable operator members integrate new cable telecommunications technologies into their business objectives, CableLabs will obviously be biased in favor of the cable industry," EchoStar said in its comments.

The company also criticized the plug-and-play process at the FCC.

"As the commission is well aware, EchoStar, as well as other members of the DBS industry strenuously objected to being made subject to the draft encoding rules that were agreed to by the cable and consumer electronics industry," the company said. "The DBS industry did not participate in these negotiations and they do not adequately address its interests."