FCC Accelerates Digital Cable Rollout by Moving to Eliminate Unnecessary Regulatory Barriers

The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to modernize and reform its cable television technical rules, facilitating the cable industry’s widespread transition from analog to digital transmission systems. The proposed rules reflect the Commission’s ongoing commitment to regulatory reform and will permit the industry to utilize their existing spectrum more efficiently, while also ensuring good quality signals for digital cable customers and will protect against digital signal leakage.

The NPRM proposes to update the Commission’s signal quality rules, which were established when analog technology was predominant and digital technology was nascent. The proposed revision will streamline compliance for operators of digital cable systems. The NPRM also proposes to modernize the Commission’s cable signal leakage rules that were also designed with analog systems in mind. The proposed revision will protect the spectrum used for aeronautical communication and navigation services from interference by cable signal leaks, while enabling digital operators to more efficiently use their systems. Finally, the NPRM proposes a number of minor technical revisions, and seeks comment on any other technical changes necessary to bring the Commission’s cable rules into the 21st century.