DirecTV Back Again at FCC on Plug-and-Play

[Gregg Lengling]

The back-and-fourth comments between cable interests and DirecTV on plug-and-play issues continued recently at the Federal Communications Commission.

At issue this time is a mandate prohibiting cable operators from deploying set-top boxes with integrated security features as of July 1, 2006. The National Cable and Telecommunications Association has argued that the rationale for the integration ban is no longer valid, the costs of the ban are unnecessary and unwarranted, and the commission should eliminate the rule.

While the company didn't necessarily take a stand on the rule, DirecTV took issue with the NCTA's assertion contained in its arguments on the matter. "DirecTV strongly objects to NCTA's position that a retention of the integration ban would allow DBS providers to unfairly compete with cable operators, and places the 'thumb on the scale in favor of one competitor over another,'" DirecTV said in a filing at the FCC.

"This argument ignores the fundamental reality that the scale of MVPD (multichannel video programming distribution) competition still weighs heavily in the direction of cable operators, and that these cable incumbents continue to exert substantial MVPD market power," DirecTV said.

As the commission considers whether to retain the integration ban for cable operators, DirecTV said the FCC should not "lose sight of the facts, and its earlier and current findings, in making its determination on the issue."