Broadband Library: Two Sides to Every Story

We write a regular column for Broadband Library, a quarterly publication that goes to all members of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE). Beginning in early 2007, every issue has contained our column "Two Sides to Every Story", using opposing pages to present conflicting viewpoints on a cable/telecom industry topic.

The current issue will be posted here when the following issue is distributed to SCTE members. To read the first part of our most recent dialog, click for Sandy and Dave. To receive the full copy of each article when it is published, you'll need to join the SCTE.

Our columns from earlier issues are listed below in reverse chronological order - most recent first.

Winter 2008 Issue (December--current)

Our column in the Winter 2008 issue describes some problems cable operators have had in detecting customer problems, and by contrast discusses the new technologies telephone companies are deploying for remote monitoring.

In Don't Make It Hard for Me To Defend You, Sandy describes a recent experience our daughter and son-in-law had with their cable service. When the power company replaced a telephone pole in front of their house, they lost their video, high-speed Internet, and voice service. Diagnosing the problem required a lengthy phone call, and they had already restored service themselves by the time the cable company arrived. Sandy asked "When a triple-play house loses all their service, can't automated tools flag it and proactively deploy repair?"

In Telcos are Turning a Disadvantage into an Advantage, Dave describes the technologies telcos are deploying to manage triple-play services. While cable operators can use their broadband coaxial cable to communicate over the wide area network with digital devices such as cable modems and set top boxes, telcos depend on a network in the home. For IPTV they use data-over-coax technologies such as HomePNA or MoCA to connect set top boxes to the home router. They have developed an extensive suite of protocols known as TR-069 for remote management of their CPE devices. These protocols are being adopted for other applications such as WiMAX and femtocells. Dave says "TR-069 is fast becoming the global standard for remote management of triple-play services."

Our column in the Fall 2008 issue is focused on tru2way--a "virtual cable box" that can be embedded in consumer electronics equipment.

The Summer 2008 issue celebrates the 25th anniversary of Cable-Tec Expo, so we were asked to look back at the past 25 years. Our column debates how technology advances have made our lives both better and more difficult.

Our column in the Spring 2008 Issue discusses recent moves by the cable industry toward tiered pricing after many years of selling broadband services at a flat monthly rate.

Reflecting our early experience with broadband, our column in the Winter 2007 Issue discusses our different views of the roles the cable and telephone industries would play in the evolution of broadband services.

Our column in the Fall 2007 Issue issue debates whether networked PC video has become a major threat to MSOs.

Our column in the Summer 2007 issue debates whether or not cable operators should participate in the metro Wi-Fi market.

Our first column—in the Spring 2007 Issue issue—debates the reality of the broadband home.