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Archives
 May 2000 Issue
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Pulse
LaGrange, Ga., Funds Internet Access
By Jonathan Tombes, Deployment Editor
Did someone say Digital Divide? The City of LaGrange, Ga., is trying to banish that notion by bringing Internet access to all cable households in its community.
Charter Communications will provide the service, using WorldGate’s Internet on EVERY TV product and Motorola’s set-top boxes. The city of LaGrange is funding the effort, which builds upon a relationship that arose from the city’s interest in providing broadband services.
Instead of going head-to-head with Charter, which owned the local system, in 1998 LaGrange agreed to buy the system, rebuild it into a 750 MHz two-way plant, and lease back capacity to Charter.
Charter introduced LaGrange to WorldGate, a developer of interactive television services. As it happened, the missions of LaGrange and WorldGate dovetailed.
"We had initially deployed WorldGate in LaGrange through our Charter affiliation agreement, and the Mayor of the town happened to come across the service, and was moved by the possibilities of providing low-cost but highly functional Internet access on the TV set to all of his constituents," said Peter Mondics, vice president of sales and marketing for WorldGate.
The system is currently in a beta-test mode, with about a hundred customers using an advanced analog set top box. The technical challenges for rolling out the service appear modest.
"This is no different from deploying World-Gate anywhere, with the exception of its obviously going to be a large number of WorldGate customers," said Phil Skinner, Charter’s general manager for Georgia.
Hall is budgeting about $300,000 for the first year’s service and will split associated capital costs at the headend with Charter. The city is planning to purchase Charter’s set-top boxes and sell or lease them back after a year, at which time customers may be charged for the set-top, but not the service. Hall anticipates 7,000 of the 9,100 homes that have basic cable taking this service.
The city, which also operates a separate fiber optic system for commercial and industrial applications, will install the WorldGate service with its own technicians. The service will come defaulted with SurfWatch, a product that filters adult-oriented material. Hall expects the rollout in early June.
RiverDelta Boxes QoS
By Jonathan Tombes, Deployment Editor
Within only a year of its founding, RiverDelta Networks is poised to demonstrate and begin beta-testing its flagship product, the Broadband Services Router (BSR) 64000.
RiverDelta jump-started development by acquiring technical teams steeped in the domains that the BSR 64000 seeks to link: the regional wide area network/metropolitan area networks (WANs/MANs) and the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks.
"The technical opportunity is that mechanisms such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) and differentiated services have enabled quality of service (QoS) on Internet protocol (IP) backbones, and DOCSIS 1.1 has enabled QoS on HFC access networks," said RiverDelta Chief Technical Officer Gerry White.
The result of the technical opportunity, White said, is that "an end-to-end QoS capable infrastructure can be built enabling applications such as voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and streaming multimedia."
The BSR 64000’s key feature lies in its SmartFlow Virtual Router, which is designed to allow multiple system operators (MSOs) to offer independent virtual networks to multiple service providers, thus better harnessing traffic over increasingly crowded HFC architectures. The implications involved for VoIP telephony are especially striking.
"You could be running at maybe 10 percent of capacity of the bandwidth, but still have very poor quality service for your voice traffic, because you’re not classifying it properly," said Jeffrey Walker, RiverDelta’s vice president of marketing.
QoS concerns have kept many cable operators from plunging into telephony.
RiverDelta’s BSR 64000 challenges Cisco’s Universal Broadband Router (uBR) 7200 series, an integrated cable modem termination system (CMTS) and router.
"What RiverDelta does is take it to another level," said Ron Westfall, senior analyst at telecom research firm Current Analysis. "Not only are you integrating the sheer media aggregation component, the CMTS element, and integrating the routing capabilities, but also you’re including the switching and also the upconverter/ modulating functions onto a single platform."
Westfall said such integration can help operators to improve scaling.
"The current Cisco routing capabilities run about 300,000 packets per second, whereas the BSR 64000 can scale to a couple of millions packets per second," he said.
With its claim to offer "four times the performance at one-fourth the cost in one-fourth the space," RiverDelta aims to make a big splash when it demonstrates the system at the National Cable Television Association’s convention and show in New Orleans.
Another player to watch is Broadband Access Systems, which has a similar system. Speculation is already rising among industry analysts over what comes next.
"The technology is elegant; however, with both RiverDelta and BAS, what’s going to be interesting is what kind of partnerships they can line up to get these deployed by the AT&T ventures, the Paul Allen ventures, the really big cable guys," added Westfall.
USB Simplifies Modem Installs
By Arthur Cole, Contributing Editor
CableLabs’ recent certification of three new cable modems with universal serial bus (USB) technology marks the first significant step toward reducing the time and annoyance involved in physical set-up and activation of broadband data service for new cable modem users.
Because most new computers are coming out with standard USB ports, this new generation of modems will allow customers literally to plug and play their own off-the-shelf cable modems. Cable operators will no longer have to send out technicians to open up the customer’s computer, install a network interface card (NIC) and configure the modem.
"This reduces one of the more significant installation barriers to cable modem deployment," said Dave Bukovinsky, vice president of broadband services at CableLabs.
The certified USB modems come from Arris Interactive, Motorola and Thomson Consumer Electronics. Executives at Arris and Motorola say they are prepared to start shipping their modems immediately, either through retail outlets or through traditional lease arrangements with cable operators. Thomson officials could not be reached for comment.
Few industry observers express any doubt that USB modems will become the wave of cable’s high-speed data future.
"Cable modems are already dropping in price and quickly becoming a commodity," said Michael Horton, director of marketing at Arris. "We expect a lot of manufacturers to follow the (USB) path."
For the CM-200 USB cable modem, Arris provides a self-provisioning software package that allows users to set up their own services from home.
For cable operators, the advantages of USB technology are three-fold. First, it will likely spark consumer interest in the devices now that they don’t have to worry about opening up their personal computers (PCs) to add a $20 to $65 Ethernet card. Second, installation costs drop because of fewer truck rolls. Finally, cable operators can now get out of the hardware leasing game, in which they retain ownership of ever-depreciating hardware.
"This will definitely move the industry toward more retail deployment," said Bon Lam, cable modem product manager at Motorola. "There will be a lot of movement this year and more so in 2001."
Lam said Motorola’s current DM-100 USB modem is likely to be available only to cable operators for lease to customers. The follow-up product, the SB-4100, ought to hit retail shelves later this year.
Now that cable modems have entered the realm of plug-and-play, many players are looking ahead. Next stop: an internal cable modem card that is factory installed before the computer even leaves the manufacturer’s shop.
Exam Proctoring Key Concern of SCTE Chapter Leaders
By Jonathan Tombes, Deployment Editor
Chapter leaders of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) and SCTE staff fast-tracked normal communications during their first-ever gathering in Exton, Pa. Proctoring certification exams was a top concern of many attendees.
"I don’t want our certification to become a piece of paper on a wall," said SCTE president Jim Kuhns, who supported the current policy, which limits proctors to SCTE chapter presidents (numbering about 70), SCTE staff and SCTE board members. However, that policy appears to pose hardships, in some cases.
"Instead of saying here’s the test date, come to us, we try to go out to them," said Randy Parker president of the Great Plains (Nebraska) chapter. "So you might have a two or three or four hour drive just to go out and test people, and when you’re the only person to do that, very often it’s difficult."
Attendees proposed extending proctoring privileges to past presidents and senior members to address this concern. Changing the rules on proctoring would require action by the SCTE training committee, which is slated to meet at the Cable-Tec Expo in June, and then approval by the board of directors.
Chapter leaders also expressed concern over administering the exam, particularly laying the ground-rules and handling latecomers. Some proposed providing proctors with an official SCTE checklist of current rules covering the exam, which proctors could in turn distribute to examinees.
"Indeed, we are working on this," said SCTE Director of Certification Gary Selwitz, after the meeting. "And it doesn’t require a vote by anybody."
At the meeting Selwitz announced changes to rules covering installer certification, as well. Most significantly, candidates are required to have six months of experience as an installer before taking the exam. And, candidates must complete an installation during the exam.
Chapter leaders also heard from SCTE Coordinator for Accounting and Personnel Jill Patterson, who explained how maintaining the SCTE’s tax-exempt, 501-C (6) status required filing accurate chapter reports. "You’d be surprised at how many didn’t understand why this was so important—including board members," she said.
Chapter leaders spent several hours brainstorming ideas for successful chapter topics, recruiting, managerial involvement and vendor shows. Some of their proposals included:
- Offer scholarships at tech schools or colleges
- Expand chapter libraries
- Coordinate with vendors’ regional sales schedule
- Alternate meeting days to facilitate permission for attendance
- Limit seminar times at vendor days
- Coordinate schedules with other chapters and vendor shows
Communications Technology, The Literature Library, ADC, Harmonic, C-COR.net and Alpha Technologies sponsored the meeting, which is expected to become an annual event.
Teryanon to Embed Firewall
By Jonathan Tombes, Deployment Editor
SofaWare Technologies, a Check Point Software spin-off, is working with Terayon Communications Systems to give firewall protection to residential broadband Internet users.
Terayon plans to embed SofaWare’s HomeSecure! firewall security in both its TeraPro and its Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS)-certified TeraJet cable modems. SofaWare based its product on Check Point’s core Stateful Inspection technology, which uses packet-filtering algorithms on the network and application level.
The vulnerability of "always on" high-speed Internet access is not news. [See Ron Hranac’s column in February, CT.] But confusion lingers, in part because of protection that already exists within cable networks.
"There’s privacy of information, and the DOCSIS specifications do an excellent job of ensuring that the privacy over the shared network exists via the encryption technologies," said Dennis Ricker, chief operating officer of Terayon.
"There are also features in privacy intended to protect the MSO’s network from damage or malfunction as a result of a malicious user," he added. Broadband Internet connections, however, raise additional concerns over who can penetrate the home.
"Right now, with a broadband connection, the fact that there’s a permanent IP address, that it’s an always-on connection, actually gives someone an opening to sneak in and look at your computer and look at all of your files and steal information or deface things," Steve Schick, a marketing manager with Check Point.
Personal firewalls are one answer to this problem. Hranac listed three in his column: Back Orifice, Norton Internet Security 2000 and ConSeal Private Desktop for Windows.
"The concern I have about personal firewall software for users is that if they don’t configure it correctly, they may have a false sense of security," said Ricker. "And then the other thing is the updates; I mean, new security attacks happen all the time."
The Terayon-SofaWare collaboration not only embeds the firewall in the cable modem, but it also provides remote management and configuration. The end user can get involved through a web-based graphical user interface (GUI), or else relax—say, on the sofa—leaving it to the service provider to create and manage security policies.
Just don’t fall asleep as far as computer viruses go. While it is possible to perform virus checking at the residential gateway, or cable modem, the initial SofaWare-embedded Terayon modem due out in the second quarter, will not include that feature.
SCTE Board Gets Four New Faces
By Marci Dodd, SCTE
The results are in for the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers Board of Directors election to fill seats for the 2000-2002 term. New board members include:
- Region 3 Director Eric Brownell of AT&T BIS, representing Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington
- Region 4 Director M.J. Jackson of Fujikura Ltd., representing Oklahoma and Texas
- Region 5 Director Percy Kirk of Multimedia Cablevision, representing Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska
- Region 12 Director Bob Foote of Antec/Telewire Supply, representing Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Re-elected were:
- At-Large Director Ron Hranac of Cisco Systems, representing the entire membership
- Region 7 Director Jim Kuhns (current SCTE Board chairman) of Terayon Communications Systems, representing Indiana, Michigan and Ohio
- Region 8 Director Don Shackelford of Time Warner Cable, representing Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee
- Region 10 Director Wes Burton of MediaOne, representing Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia and District of Columbia
SCTE President John Clark said the election’s outcome bodes well for the Society, showing great promise for the years to come.
"The election results give testimony to the diversity that makes SCTE the great organization that it is," he said. "I look forward to working with the leaders that the members have chosen."
The newly elected and re-elected members will join the seven SCTE board members currently serving their 1999-2001 terms:
- At-Large Director Christopher Bowick of Cox Communications, representing the entire membership
- At-Large Director Tom Elliot of CableLabs, representing the entire membership
- Region 1 Director Steve Allen of TVC Communications, representing California, Hawaii and Nevada
- Region 2 Director Steven Johnson of Time Warner Cable, representing Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming
- Region 6 Director William Davis of Communications Supply Group, representing Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and
- Wisconsin
- Region 9 Director Keith Hayes of MediaOne, representing Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and the Caribbean
- Region 11 Director Marianne McClain of Baker Installations, representing Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
The general vote and Article 10 regarding changes to the SCTE Bylaws also were balloted and passed in the election.
The newly elected and re-elected directors will officially begin their two-year terms at the next SCTE board meeting, scheduled for June 4, just prior to Cable-Tec Expo 2000 in Las Vegas.
JDS Buys Cronos
By Evan Bass, Editor, Fiber Optic News
Making its eighth acquisition since September, JDS Uniphase bought Cronos Integrated Microsystems Inc. for $750 million in April.
Based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., Chronos develops micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). These products are expected to play a key role in fiber optic network expansion because they allow signals to remain optical, thus avoiding the optical-electronic-optical conversion process.
The MEMS market has seen considerable action lately. In March, Nortel Networks bought Xros for $3.25 billion and CoreTek for $1.43 billion.
Cronos is smaller than its MEMS competitors, with 67 employees and annual sales of about $10 million. Xros is pre-revenue, but has 90 employees, and CoreTek has 120 employees and is also pre-revenue.
"We have had for some time optical switching technologies based on optical mechanical and polymer switches, but these technologies have had problems scaling much above the 32 x 32 matrix," said Kevin Kalkhoven, JDS Uniphase CEO. "Meanwhile, carriers are looking for mega-switches that can scale from 512 x 512 and beyond."
"When we saw this situation evolving, we started a pretty exhaustive search of both internal and external capabilities; we came to the conclusion to fulfill the component side of the business, the merger with Cronos was the thing we had to do," he said.
JDS Uniphase makes products deployed by systems manufacturers to develop advanced optical networks for the telecommunications and cable TV industries.
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