[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18508-18511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9489]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 15 and 76

[ET Docket No. 93-7; FCC 96-129]


Implementation of Section 17 of the Cable Television Consumer 
Protection and Competition Act of 1992; and Compatibility Between Cable 
Systems and Consumer Electronics Equipment

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; response to petitions for reconsideration.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has revised and clarified certain aspects of 
its regulations for assuring compatibility between consumer electronics 
equipment and cable systems. In particular, the Commission has 
clarified the requirement for cable operators to offer subscribers set-
top devices with multiple tuners; eliminated the prohibition on 
changing the infrared codes used with remote controls; clarified its 
policy with regard to the Decoder Interface connector standard; and, 
refined the ``cable ready'' TV receiver standards. These revisions and 
clarifications will further the Commission's goals of promoting greater 
compatibility between cable systems and consumer electronics equipment. 
This action is in response to ten Petitions for Reconsideration of the 
First Report and Order in this proceeding.

EFFECTIVE DATES: May 28, 1996. The incorporation by reference of a 
publication listed in the regulations was approved by the Director of 
the Federal Register as of May 16, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Stillwell (202-418-2470) or 
Robert Bromery (301-418-2475), Office of Engineering and Technology.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
Memorandum, Opinion and Order in ET Docket No. 93-7, FCC 96-129, 
adopted March 22, 1996 and released April 10, 1996. The full text of 
this decision is available for inspection and copying during normal 
business hours in the FCC Dockets Branch (Room 230), 1919 M Street, 
N.W., Washington, DC. The complete text of this decision also may be 
purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, International 
Transcriptions Service, 2100 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036, 
(202) 857-3800.

Summary of the Memorandum Opinion and Order

    1. In the First Report and Order in this proceeding, 59 FR 25339, 
May 16, 1994, the Commission adopted regulations to ensure 
compatibility between cable systems and consumer electronics equipment, 
i.e., TV receivers, videocassette recorders (VCRs) and similar devices. 
These regulations were adopted in response to Section 17 of the Cable 
Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 (1992 Cable Act), Pub. 
L. No. 102-385, 106 Stat. 1460, (1992), Sec. 17. The major 
compatibility problems addressed in the compatibility rules include the 
capabilities to record sequential programs on different channels; to 
record one program while watching another; to use advanced television 
picture generation and display features such as ``Picture-in-Picture''; 
and to use remote controls. The new rules include requirements for 
cable operators to take a number of actions that will improve 
compatibility between existing cable system and consumer TV equipment. 
The compatibility rules also include requirements and standards for 
both cable operators and consumer equipment operators that are intended 
to achieve more effective compatibility through new cable and consumer 
equipment.
    2. Petitions for Reconsideration of the First Report and Order were 
filed by ten parties: ANTEC Corporation, Cablevision Systems 
Corporation, Cable Telecommunications Association, the Consumer 
Electronics Group of the Electronics Industries Association, General 
Instrument Corporation, the National Cable Television Association, 
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., TeleCable Corporation, Time Warner 
Entertainment Company, L.P., and Zenith Electronics Corporation. These 
parties requested revisions and clarifications with regard to a number 
of specific provisions of the rules adopted in the First Report and 
Order.
    3. In response to the Petitions for Reconsideration, the 
Commission's Memorandum, Opinion and Order sets forth a number of 
decisions pertaining to the cable-consumer electronics equipment 
compatibility rules. In particular, this decision:

--Clarifies that cable operators who use scrambling are required to 
offer subscribers supplemental equipment

[[Page 18509]]

that has the capability to allow simultaneous reception of two 
scrambled signals;
--Eliminates the prohibition on changing the infrared (IR) codes used 
with remote controls;
--Denies a request to expand the consumer education program to include 
an advisory that consumer equipment could become obsolete;
--Clarifies the Commission will: (1) Require that the Decoder Interface 
standard be designed to enable all functions other than security to be 
provided in competitively supplied equipment; (2) require cable 
operators to offer security-only component descrambler modules and (3) 
not preclude cable operators from incorporating security functions in 
multi-function component descrambler modules;
--Eliminates the advisory labeling requirement for consumer TV 
receivers and VCRs that incorporate features intended to be used with 
cable service, but do not fully comply with the ``cable ready'' 
equipment standards;
--Clarifies that the Commission's rules do not prohibit equipment 
manufacturers from applying the Canadian GRR II label for cable 
compatible devices to TV receivers and VCRs marketed in the United 
States that do not fully comply with the ``cable ready'' equipment 
standards if that label is carried on the device in an inconspicuous 
location and manner;
--Makes several minor revisions and clarifications with regard to the 
technical standards for ``cable ready'' TV equipment.

    4. Accordingly, it is Ordered that Parts 15 and 76 of the 
Commission's rules Are Amended as set forth below, effective May 28, 
1996. This action is taken pursuant to authority provided in Sections 
4(i), 7(a), 302, 303(c), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r) and 324A of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended 47 U.S.C. Sections 154(i), 
157(a), 302, 303(c), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r) and 324A.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 15

    Communications equipment, Television receivers, TV interface 
devices.

47 CFR Part 76

    Cable television.

Federal Communications Commission
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.

Rule Changes

    Parts 15 and 76 of Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations are amended as follows:

PART 15--RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES

    1. The authority citation for Part 15 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 302, 303, 304, 307 and 544A.

    2. Section 15.19 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 15.19  Labeling requirements.

* * * * *
    (d) Consumer electronics TV receiving devices, including TV 
receivers, videocassette recorders, and similar devices, that 
incorporate features intended to be used with cable television service, 
but do not fully comply with the technical standards for cable ready 
equipment set forth in Sec. 15.118, shall not be marketed with 
terminology that describes the device as ``cable ready'' or ``cable 
compatible,'' or that otherwise conveys the impression that the device 
is fully compatible with cable service. Factual statements about the 
various features of a device that are intended for use with cable 
service or the quality of such features are acceptable so long as such 
statements do not imply that the device is fully compatible with cable 
service. Statements relating to product features are generally 
acceptable where they are limited to one or more specific features of a 
device, rather than the device as a whole. This requirement applies to 
consumer TV receivers, videocassette recorders and similar devices 
manufactured or imported for sale in this country on or after October 
31, 1994.
    3. Section 15.115 is amended by revising paragraph (i) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 15.115  TV interface devices, including cable system terminal 
devices.

* * * * *
    (i) Switches and other devices intended to be used to by-pass the 
processing circuitry of a cable system terminal device, whether 
internal to such a terminal device or a stand-alone unit, shall not 
attenuate the input signal more than 6 dB from 54 MHz to 550 MHz, or 
more than 8 dB from 550 MHz to 804 MHz. The 6 dB standard applies at 
550 MHz. The provisions of this paragraph are applicable June 30, 1997.
    4. Section 15.118 is amended by revising paragraphs (b), (c)(1), 
(c)(2), (c)(3), (c)(4), (c)(5) and (d) to read as follows:


Sec. 15.118  Cable ready consumer electronics equipment.

* * * * *
    (b) Cable ready consumer electronics equipment shall be capable of 
receiving all NTSC or similar video channels on channels 1 through 125 
of the channel allocation plan set forth in the Electronics Industries 
Association's ``Cable Television Channel Identification Plan, EIA IS-
132, May 1994'' (EIA IS-132). This incorporation by reference was 
approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 522(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of EIA IS-132 may be obtained 
from: Global Engineering Documents, 3130 South Harbor Boulevard, Santa 
Anna, CA 92704. Copies of EIA IS-132 may be inspected during normal 
business hours at the following locations: Federal Communications 
Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Dockets Branch (Room 239), Washington, 
DC, or the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (c) * * *
    (1) Adjacent channel interference. In the presence of a lower 
adjacent channel CW signal that is 1.5 MHz below the desired visual 
carrier in frequency and 10 dB below the desired visual carrier in 
amplitude, spurious signals within the IF passband shall be attenuated 
at least 55 dB below the visual carrier of the desired signal. The 
desired input signal shall be an NTSC visual carrier modulated with a 
10 IRE flat field with color burst and the aural carrier which is 10 dB 
below the visual carrier should be unmodulated. Measurements are to be 
performed for input signal levels of 0 dBmV and +15 dBmV, with the 
receiver tuned to ten evenly spaced EIA IS-132 channels covering the 
band 54 MHz to 804 MHz.
    (2) Image channel interference. Image channel interference within 
the IF passband shall be attenuated below the visual carrier of the 
desired channel by at least 60 dB from 54 MHz to 714 MHz and 50 dB from 
714 MHz to 804 MHz. The 60 dB standard applies at 714 MHz. In testing 
for compliance with this standard, the desired input signal is to be an 
NTSC signal on which the visual carrier is modulated with a 10 IRE flat 
field with color burst and the aural carrier is unmodulated and 10 dB 
below the visual carrier. The undesired test signal shall be a CW 
signal equal in amplitude to the desired visual carrier and located 90 
MHz above the visual

[[Page 18510]]

carrier frequency of the desired channel. Measurements shall be 
performed for input signals of 0 dBmV and +15 dBmV, with the receiver 
tuned to at least ten evenly spaced EIA IS-132 channels covering the 
band 54 MHz to 804 MHz.
    (3) Direct pickup interference. The direct pickup (DPU) of a co-
channel interfering ambient field by a cable ready device shall not 
exceed the following criteria. The ratio of the desired to undesired 
signal levels at the IF passband on each channel shall be at least 45 
dB. The average ratio over the six channels shall be at least 50 dB. 
The desired input signal shall be an NTSC signal having a visual 
carrier level of 0 dBmV. The visual carrier is modulated with a 10 IRE 
flat field with color burst, visual to aural carrier ratio of 10 dB, 
aural carrier unmodulated. The equipment under test (EUT) shall be 
placed on a rotatable table that is one meter in height. Any excess 
length of the power cord and other connecting leads shall be coiled on 
the floor under the table. The EUT shall be immersed in a horizontally 
polarized uniform CW field of 100 mV/m at a frequency 2.55 MHz above 
the visual carrier of the EUT tuned channel. Measurements shall be made 
with the EUT tuned to six EIA IS-132 channels, two each in the low VHF, 
high VHF and UHF broadcast bands. On each channel, the levels at the IF 
passband due to the desired and interfering signals are to be measured.
    (4) Tuner overload. Spurious signals within the IF passband shall 
be attenuated at least 55 dB below the visual carrier of the desired 
channel using a comb-like spectrum input with each visual carrier 
signal individually set at +15 dBmV from 54 to 550 MHz. The desired 
input signal is to be an NTSC signal on which the visual carrier is 
modulated with a 10 IRE flat field with color burst and the aural 
carrier is unmodulated and 10 dB below the visual carrier. Measurements 
shall be made with the receiver tuned to at least seven evenly spaced 
EIA IS-132 channels covering the band 54 MHz to 550 MHz. In addition, 
spurious signals within the IF passband shall be attenuated at least 51 
dB below the visual carrier of the desired channel using a comb 
spectrum input with each signal individually set at +15 dBmV from 550 
to 804 MHz. Measurements shall be made with the receiver tuned to at 
least three evenly spaced EIA IS-132 channels covering the band 550 MHz 
to 804 MHz.
    (5) Cable input conducted emissions. (i) Conducted spurious 
emissions that appear at the cable input to the device must meet the 
following criteria. The input shall be an NTSC video carrier modulated 
with a 10 IRE flat field with color burst at a level of 0 dBmV and with 
a visual to aural ratio of 10 dB. The aural carrier shall be 
unmodulated. The peak level of the spurious signals will be measured 
using a spectrum analyzer connected by a directional coupler to the 
cable input of the equipment under test. Spurious signal levels must 
not exceed the limits in the following table:

From 54 MHz up to and including 300 MHz-26 dBmV
From 300 MHz up to and including 450 MHz-20 dBmV
From 450 MHz up to and including 804 MHz-15 dBmV

    (ii) The average of the measurements on multiple channels from 450 
MHz up to and including 804 MHz shall be no greater than -20 dBmV. 
Measurements shall be made with the receiver tuned to at least four EIA 
IS-132 channels in each of the above bands. The test channels are to be 
evenly distributed across each of the bands. Measurements for conducted 
emissions caused by sources internal to the device are to be made in a 
shielded room. Measurements for conducted emissions caused by external 
signal sources shall be made in an ambient RF field whose field 
strength is 100 mV/m, following the same test conditions as described 
in paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
    (d) The field strength of radiated emissions from cable ready 
consumer electronics equipment shall not exceed the limits in 
Sec. 15.109(a) when measured in accordance with the applicable 
procedures specified in Secs. 15.31 and 15.35 for unintentional 
radiators, with the following modifications. During testing the NTSC 
input signal level is to be +15 dBmV, with a visual to aural ratio of 
10 dB. The visual carrier is to be modulated by a 10 IRE flat field 
with color burst; the aural carrier is to be unmodulated. Measurements 
are to be taken on six EIA IS-132 channels evenly spaced across the 
required RF input range of the equipment under test.
* * * * *

PART 76--CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE

    5. The authority citation for Part 76 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151-714; 106 Stat. 1460.

    6. Section 76.605 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1), removing 
paragraph (a)(2), and redesignating paragraphs (a)(3) through (a)(13) 
as paragraphs (a)(2) through (a)(12), respectively, to read as follows:


Sec. 76.605  Technical standards.

    (a) * * *
    (1)(i) The cable television channels delivered to the subscriber's 
terminal shall be capable of being received and displayed by TV 
broadcast receivers used for off-the-air reception of TV broadcast 
signals, as authorized under part 73 of this chapter; and
    (ii) Cable television systems shall transmit signals to subscriber 
premises equipment on frequencies in accordance with the channel 
allocation plan set forth in the Electronics Industries Association's 
``Cable Television Channel Identification Plan, EIA IS-132, May 1994'' 
(EIA IS-132). This incorporation by reference was approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 522(a) and 
1 CFR Part 51. Cable systems are required to use this channel 
allocation plan for signals transmitted in the frequency range 54 MHz 
to 1002 MHz. This incorporation by reference was approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 522(a) and 
1 CFR Part 51. Copies of EIA IS-132 may be obtained from: Global 
Engineering Documents, 2805 McGraw Ave., Irvine CA 92714. Copies of EIA 
IS-132 may be inspected during normal business hours at the following 
locations: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW, 
Dockets Branch (Room 239), Washington, DC, or the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. 
This requirement is applicable on May 31, 1995, for new and re-built 
cable systems, and on June 30, 1997, for all cable systems.
* * * * *
    7. Section 76.630 is amended by removing paragraph (c), 
redesignating paragraphs (d) and (e) as paragraphs (c) and (d) 
respectively, and revising newly redesignated paragraphs (c) 
introductory text, (c)(2)(i), and (d)(2)(iii) and the note to 
Sec. 76.630 at the end of the section to read as follows:


Sec. 76.630  Compatibility with consumer electronics equipment.

* * * * *
    (c) Cable system operators that use scrambling, encryption or 
similar technologies in conjunction with cable system terminal devices, 
as defined in Sec. 15.3(e) of this chapter, that may affect 
subscribers' reception of signals shall offer to supply each subscriber 
with special equipment that will enable the simultaneous reception of 
multiple signals. The equipment offered shall include a single terminal 
device with dual descramblers/decoders and/or timers and bypass 
switches. Other equipment, such as two independent set-top terminal 
devices may be offered

[[Page 18511]]

at the same time that the single terminal device with dual tuners/
descramblers is offered. For purposes of this rule, two set-top devices 
linked by a control system that provides functionality equivalent to 
that of a single device with dual descramblers is considered to be the 
same as a terminal device with dual descramblers/decoders.
* * * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) To allow simultaneous reception of any two scrambled or 
encrypted signals and to provide for tuning to alternative channels on 
a pre-programmed schedule; and
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) In cases where cable system operators offer remote control 
capability with cable system terminal devices and other customer 
premises equipment that is provided to subscribers, they shall advise 
their subscribers that remote control units that are compatible with 
that equipment may be obtained from other sources, such as retail 
outlets. Cable system operators shall also provide a representative 
list of the models of remote control units currently available from 
retailers that are compatible with the customer premises equipment they 
employ. Cable system operators are required to make a good faith effort 
in compiling this list and will not be liable for inadvertent 
omissions. This list shall be current as of no more than six months 
before the date the consumer education program is distributed to 
subscribers. Cable operators are also required to encourage subscribers 
to contact the cable operator to inquire about whether a particular 
remote control unit the subscriber might be considering for purchase 
would be compatible with the subscriber's customer premises equipment.

    Note to Sec. 76.630: The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of 
this section are applicable July 31, 1994, and June 30, 1994, 
respectively. The provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this 
section are applicable October 31, 1994, except for the requirement 
under paragraph (c) of this section for cable system operators to 
supply cable system terminal devices with dual tuners (as needed), 
which is applicable October 31, 1995. The initial offer of special 
equipment to all subscribers, as required under paragraph (c) of 
this section, shall be made by October 31, 1994.

[FR Doc. 96-9489 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-N