News Releases
BigBand Applauds FCC's Decision On SDV Implementations
FCC recognizes significant consumer benefits of SDV
June 29, 2009
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., June 29, 2009—BigBand Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBND), a leader in digital video networking, today announced that it applauds the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)'s latest ruling to vacate its Enforcement Bureau's previous Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Forfeiture Orders relating to Time Warner Cable Inc. and Cox Communications' implementations of Switched Digital Video (SDV). The FCC's decision recognizes that there are "significant consumer benefits of SDV deployment". These include transmitting both analog and digital channels without displacing substantial amounts of existing programming, introducing new high definition channels and diverse programming, and freeing up bandwidth for additional broadband technologies such as DOCSIS® 3.0.
The FCC's decision to reverse prior rulings indicates its understanding of the importance and benefits of switched digital technology to improve consumer choice and viewing experiences. These prior rulings were issued last year against certain cable operators for moving channels from their broadcast lineups to SDV groups. The ruling was based on the premise that moving these channels made programming inaccessible to non-operator-supplied devices. MSOs have worked with manufacturers to develop adapters that allow unidirectional CableCard-based DVRs and TV sets to access switched digital video programming. MSOs plan to distribute these to customers with CableCards in systems with switched digital video.
"We applaud the FCC's decision, which recognizes that SDV increases the amount and quality of programming for consumers today," said Amir Bassan-Eskenazi, President and CEO of BigBand Networks. "The decision is a realization that the potential of SDV is not only in bandwidth expansion, but also in the industry's ability to bring cost-effective personalized video services to consumers on multiple screens."
BigBand SDV has been deployed, or is being deployed, by seven of the top 10 cable operators in North America, passing more than 24 million households today. The company's SDV solution helps operators optimize the network spectrum needed for bandwidth-intensive services such as HDTV and long-tail content. BigBand's SDV solution provides a path to personalized television services by migrating seamlessly from multicast to ultimately individualized, unicast delivery.
About BigBand Networks
BigBand Networks, Inc. [NASDAQ: BBND] provides broadband service providers with innovative network solutions designed to make it easier to move, manage and monetize video. These solutions are based on BigBand's video-networking platforms that are built to enable efficient and reliable delivery of video, voice and data across a wide range of services, including digital TV, high definition TV, addressable advertising, video-on-demand, interactive TV, Internet TV, video telephony, high-speed Internet and voice-over-IP. BigBand Networks' customers include more than 100 service providers—including six of the ten largest service providers in the U.S.—and leading cable and telco service providers in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America. BigBand Networks is based in Redwood City, Calif., with offices worldwide. For additional information about the company, please call +1.650.995.5000, email info@bigbandnet.com or visit www.bigbandnet.com.