Goto Section: 76.617 | 76.640 | Table of Contents
FCC 76.630
Revised as of October 1, 2014
Goto Year:2013 |
2015
§ 76.630 Compatibility with consumer electronics equipment.
(a) Cable system operators shall not scramble or otherwise encrypt
signals delivered to a subscriber on the basic service tier.
(1) This prohibition shall not apply in systems in which:
(i) No encrypted signals are carried using the NTSC system; and
(ii) The cable system operator offers to its existing subscribers who
subscribe only to the basic service tier without use of a set-top box
or CableCARD at the time of encryption the equipment necessary to
descramble or decrypt the basic service tier signals (the subscriber's
choice of a set-top box or CableCARD) on up to two television sets
without charge or service fee for two years from the date encryption of
the basic service tier commences; and
(iii) The cable system operator offers to its existing subscribers who
subscribe to a level of service above "basic only" but use a digital
television or other device with a clear-QAM tuner to receive only the
basic service tier without use of a set-top box or CableCARD at the
time of encryption, the equipment necessary to descramble or decrypt
the basic service tier signals (the subscriber's choice of a set-top
box or CableCARD) on one television set without charge or service fee
for one year from the date encryption of the basic service tier
commences; and
(iv) The cable system operator offers to its existing subscribers who
receive Medicaid and also subscribe only to the basic service tier
without use of a set-top box or CableCARD at the time of encryption the
equipment necessary to descramble or decrypt the basic service tier
signals (the subscriber's choice of a set-top box or CableCARD) on up
to two television sets without charge or service fee for five years
from the date encryption of the basic service tier commences;
(v) The cable system operator notifies its existing subscribers of the
availability of the offers described in paragraphs (ii) through (iv) of
this section at least 30 days prior to the date encryption of the basic
service tier commences and makes the offers available for at least 30
days prior to and 120 days after the date encryption of the basic
service tier commences. The notification to subscribers must state:
On (DATE), (NAME OF CABLE OPERATOR) will start encrypting (INSERT NAME
OF CABLE BASIC SERVICE TIER OFFERING) on your cable system. If you have
a set-top box, digital transport adapter (DTA), or a retail CableCARD
device connected to each of your TVs, you will be unaffected by this
change. However, if you are currently receiving (INSERT NAME OF CABLE
BASIC SERVICE TIER OFFERING) on any TV without equipment supplied by
(NAME OF CABLE OPERATOR), you will lose the ability to view any
channels on that TV.
If you are affected, you should contact (NAME OF CABLE OPERATOR) to
arrange for the equipment you need to continue receiving your services.
In such case, you are entitled to receive equipment at no additional
charge or service fee for a limited period of time. The number and type
of devices you are entitled to receive and for how long will vary
depending on your situation. If you are a (INSERT NAME OF CABLE BASIC
SERVICE TIER OFFERING) customer and receive the service on your TV
without (NAME OF CABLE OPERATOR)-supplied equipment, you are entitled
to up to two devices for two years (five years if you also receive
Medicaid). If you subscribe to a higher level of service and receive
(INSERT NAME OF CABLE BASIC SERVICE TIER OFFERING) on a secondary TV
without (NAME OF CABLE OPERATOR)-supplied equipment, you are entitled
to one device for one year.
You can learn more about this equipment offer and eligibility at
(WEBPAGE ADDRESS) or by calling (PHONE NUMBER). To qualify for any
equipment at no additional charge or service fee, you must request the
equipment between (DATE THAT IS 30 DAYS BEFORE ENCRYPTION) and (DATE
THAT IS 120 DAYS AFTER ENCRYPTION) and satisfy all other eligibility
requirements.
(vi) The cable system operator notifies its subscribers who have
received equipment described in paragraphs (a)(1)(ii) through (iv) of
this section at least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the end
of the free device transitional period that the transitional period
will end. This notification must state:
You currently receive equipment necessary to descramble or decrypt the
basic service tier signals (either a set-top box or CableCARD) free of
charge. Effective with the (MONTH/YEAR) billing cycle, (NAME OF CABLE
OPERATOR) will begin charging you for the equipment you received to
access (INSERT NAME OF CABLE BASIC SERVICE TIER OFFERING) when (NAME OF
CABLE OPERATOR) started encrypting those channels on your cable system.
The monthly charge for the (TYPE OF DEVICE) will be (AMOUNT OF CHARGE).
(2) Requests for waivers of this prohibition must demonstrate either a
substantial problem with theft of basic tier service or a strong need
to scramble basic signals for other reasons. As part of this showing,
cable operators are required to notify subscribers by mail of waiver
requests. The notice to subscribers must be mailed no later than 30
calendar days from the date the request for waiver was filed with the
Commission, and cable operators must inform the Commission in writing,
as soon as possible, of that notification date. The notification to
subscribers must state:
On (date of waiver request was filed with the Commission), (cable
operator's name) filed with the Federal Communications Commission a
request for waiver of the rule prohibiting scrambling of channels on
the basic tier of service. 47 CFR 76.630(a). The request for waiver
states (a brief summary of the waiver request). A copy of the request
for waiver shall be available for public inspection at (the address of
the cable operator's local place of business).
Individuals who wish to comment on this request for waiver should mail
comments to the Federal Communications Commission by no later than 30
days from (the date the notification was mailed to subscribers). Those
comments should be addressed to the: Federal Communications Commission,
Media Bureau, Washington, DC 20554, and should include the name of the
cable operator to whom the comments are applicable. Individuals should
also send a copy of their comments to (the cable operator at its local
place of business).
Cable operators may file comments in reply no later than 7 days from
the date subscriber comments must be filed.
(b) Cable system operators that provide their subscribers with cable
system terminal devices and other customer premises equipment that
incorporates remote control capability shall permit the remote
operation of such devices with commercially available remote control
units or otherwise take no action that would prevent the devices from
being operated by a commercially available remote control unit. Cable
system operators are advised that this requirement obliges them to
actively enable the remote control functions of customer premises
equipment where those functions do not operate without a special
activation procedure. Cable system operators may, however, disable the
remote control functions of a subscriber's customer premises equipment
where requested by the subscriber.
Note 1 to § 76.630: 47 CFR 76.1621 contains certain requirements
pertaining to a cable operator's offer to supply subscribers with
special equipment that will enable the simultaneous reception of
multiple signals.
Note 2 to § 76.630: 47 CFR 76.1622 contains certain requirements
pertaining to the provision of a consumer education program on
compatibility matters to subscribers.
[ 59 FR 25342 , May 16, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 18510 , Apr. 26, 1996;
65 FR 53616 , Sept. 5, 2000; 67 FR 1650 , Jan. 14, 2002; 67 FR 13235 ,
Mar. 21, 2002; 77 FR 67301 , Dec. 10, 2012]
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Goto Section: 76.617 | 76.640
Goto Year: 2013 |
2015
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