Plug-and-Play Showcase Featured in CableNET® at The 2006 National Show

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A two-way plug-and-play advanced technology showcase was the centerpiece of the CableNET® exhibit, a highlight of The 2006 National Show, the annual convention and international exhibition of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), which was held April 9–11 at The Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The unprecedented plug-and-play display was a collection of demonstrations of the latest OpenCable™ technology using integrated digital devices and set tops displaying advanced interactive services.

The 14th annual CableNET display held nearly 50 broadband demonstrations of technologies that cable operators may soon be deploying to consumers. CableNET is a technology showcase that is co-sponsored by CableLabs and the NCTA, and offers a hands-on experience with many of the most exciting content, services, and applications.

Designed as an educational forum, CableNET enables attendees to see and discuss leading-edge technologies and applications. Among this year's highlights were downloadable conditional access system (DCAS™), 120 megabit-per-second download speeds, broadband wireless, OpenCable Applications Platform (OCAP™)-based interactive exhibits, which included a demonstration of Enhanced TV; and advanced PacketCable™ 2.0-based technologies. Among the demonstrating companies at this year's CableNET were Samsung and Panasonic, as well as the AFI (American Film Institute) Digital Content Lab and its development partners; and the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), which displayed advanced multimedia services.

The 7,800-square-foot CableNET exhibit featured technology demonstrations by companies from a wide variety of industries supporting the cable industry, including services and applications that cable companies will deliver to their customers via cable's hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) telecommunications networks.

Historically, CableNET has provided attendees a first glimpse of many nascent, leading-edge technologies and applications. Those included early views of the cable industry's Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS®) platform; high-definition televisions, two-way, OCAP-based devices, and early displays of interactive services and Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP).

“CableNET continues to provide a unique environment in which to understand the industry's technology—and service—future,” said Dr. Richard R. Green, CableLabs President and CEO. “This year's version was the most advanced yet in terms of displaying cutting-edge technologies which serve to underscore cable's competitive lead in the broadband industry.”

“CableNET's technology showcase provides a visionary glimpse into the exciting consumer services that are made possible by this industry's $100 billion fiber optic investment,” said Kyle McSlarrow, President and CEO, NCTA. “This exhibit is a great way to see many of the advanced video, voice and high-speed Internet services that cable can deliver to our customers.”

Vulcan Inc. Chairman Paul Allen watches one of the technology demonstrations at the CableNET 2006 which was part of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association annual convention in early April in Atlanta. Joining Allen in viewing the exhibit are CableLabs President and CEO Dr Richard R. Green, Comcast Executive Vice President David Cohen and Comcast Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning Mark Coblitz.

CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Richard R. Green (center) provides Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin (left) with a brief on some of the two-way plug and play demonstrations that were part of CableNET 2006. At right is Stephen Goldstein, Business Development Manager for Samsung Electronics America, and NCTA Senior Vice President Bill Check, partially hidden.

FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate watches a demonstration of advanced technology at the CableNET 2006 booth.

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