Congressional Intent for Set-Top Boxes Unfulfilled, Groups say

A coalition of consumer electronics companies and public interest groups say the cable industry has not demonstrated any progress towards a robust retail market for set-tops and is instead trying to forestall Federal Communications Commission action to create that market. "In fact, they confirm that after a decade and a half of product demonstrations and announcements, the mandate established by Congress in Section 629 remains unfulfilled," said the groups, led by the Consumer Electronics Association.