EPA Reviews Specs for Cable, Satellite Set-top Boxes

A 2001 EPA proposed standard for cable, satellite and other set-top boxes was suspended in 2004 for lack of industry participation. At the time, the EPA acknowledged a need for a “holistic approach that looked beyond potential technology advances and included vital contributions that a wider universe of stakeholders could make.” The 2001 EPA Tier 1 standards included: (1) 3 w standby for analog cable, DTV converter box, Internet access devices, video game consoles and videophone set-top boxes. (2) 15 w standby for digital cable and satellite boxes, wireless TV set-top boxes and PVRs. (3) 20 w standby for multifunction devices.

Since that 2004 suspension, set-top boxes have “evolved in complexity, feature-richness and energy use,” and consumers are keener to cut energy cost and environmental impact, EPA said. The agency knows more about managing power in consumer electronics and other products, it said. Experience cutting energy use in computers, imaging gear and DTV converters will aid agency efforts, said EPA Product Mgr. Katharine Kaplan.

The EPA wants: (1) To develop specs for set-top boxes that are performance-based and technology-neutral and deliver the most energy savings. (2) To use existing tests and specifications and harmonize with domestic and international partners. (3) To set requirements encouraging longevity, simplicity and fair comparison of products. The earlier EPA specification failed to enlist industry because it wasn’t well designed and lacked an adequate “grasp of the complex issues centered around set-top boxes, including their function and features,” said an industry source. For the new program to succeed, EPA needs to engage key industry bodies, he said.

A successful Energy Star program for set-top boxes will help consumers and will have industry support, said Douglas Johnson, CEA senior dir.-technology policy. Such voluntary efforts have worked well in promoting CE energy efficiency and conservation, he said, calling set-top boxes ripe for a “well functioning voluntary program.” After years of failing to get set-top box laws, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) dropped the devices from model legislation introduced this year in 8 states. Ascribing the failure to CEA “political clout,” NEEP Policy Specialist Isaac Elnecave said the earlier proposals targeted only single-function boxes, so industry arguments about technological constraints weren’t germane. -- Dinesh Kumar .HEADLINE Martin Endorsement of Broadband Optimization Plan Viewed as a Surprise

A band plan by Access Spectrum and Pegasus for the 700 MHz guard bands, known as the broadband optimization plan (BOP), was endorsed by Chmn. Martin last week during the House Commerce Committee’s FCC oversight hearing, in response to a question from Rep. Stupak (D-Mich.). But sources said Fri. Martin may retreat from his purported support for the plan.

“I have heard that Martin answered the question wrong and may even put out a statement,” a source said Fri. Martin’s spokesperson and Chief of Staff Dan Gonzalez couldn’t be reached for comment. Other members of the Commission are still studying the plan.

“I was stunned that he would out of the blue be so positive about it,” said a lawyer who has followed the issue: “Certainly it has gotten a wellspring of support from public safety, so it would be reasonable for the chairman to support it.”

The lawyer noted that the BOP is multifaceted. On one level the BOP moves spectrum blocks around and giving public safety an extra 3 MHz of spectrum. “The other aspect is their commercial wireless plan, which reintegrates the guard band into the commercial spectrum,” the source said: “I took his statement to be supportive of the BOP, which public safety wanted, but not necessarily the 2nd part.”

Access Spectrum viewed Martin’s statement as a more complete endorsement of the company’s proposal. “Chmn. Martin’s endorsement of the Broadband Optimization Plan is a positive step for public safety communications and innovation in wireless broadband technology,” said Access Spectrum CEO Michael Gottdenker. “We have worked hard with the public safety community, with companies interested in advancing 4G technology, and many others to develop a plan that helps the nation’s first responders and advances wireless broadband technology… Chmn. Martin’s timely endorsement of the BOP is critical. The BOP has the vigorous support of the public safety community, and with public safety’s efforts and the Chairman’s support, we are extremely hopeful that the FCC will adopt the BOP in the coming weeks.”

The BOP has raised red flags among carriers. In FCC comments, CTIA said many questions remain, such as whether the Access proposal would create interference in the upper B and C block and lower C band block, to be sold by the FCC in the 700 MHz auction. The FCC auctioned the guard band licenses in 2000, but few of the winners have offered services. The future of the guard bands is one of the issues teed up as the FCC moves toward a 700 MHz auction this year.