CableLabs^® Certified^™ Cable Modem Frequently Asked Questions

A. After a cable modem vendor is satisfied that its modem meets the CableLabs® Certified™ specifications, it applies to participate in a pre-scheduled "certification wave" activity. Participation requires that a vendor provide completed test documentation and data, as well as 27 identical cable modems. During the certification wave, CableLabs’ staff engineers, in conjunction with cable operators, perform a series of audit tests over a period of several weeks. The data gathered is provided to the Certification Board, which reviews the test data, as well as data gathered from cable operator field tests and broadband service providers, to determine whether the product meets the requirements of the CableLabs specification to become CableLabs certified. The Certification Board makes its recommendation to the Executive Committee of the CableLabs Board of Directors for final approval.

A. The typical certification wave lasts about six weeks. For example, the latest certification wave began on January 18 with the delivery of vendors’ documentation and equipment. The wave was completed on March 4, 1999.

A. Yes, this is exactly what we expect to occur. The process is designed to certify as many vendors as can demonstrate that they have achieved the level of quality, stability, and interoperability required by the DOCSIS specification. In that way, consumers can count on the consistency and interoperability of the cable modem when they purchase a product carrying the CableLabs® Certified™ seal. As to when a cable modem is submitted to CableLabs for certification testing, each vendor needs to make its own decision based on product readiness.

CableLabs does go over the results in detail with each vendor to provide them with the information they need in order to pass.

A. Any interested manufacturer can participate in the DOCSIS process and apply for certification. CableLabs and the cable industry want as many vendors as possible manufacturing certified modems.

A. The DOCSIS 1.0 specification provides baseline privacy that guarantees user data privacy (across the cable network) and service protection by encrypting the cable modem (CM)/cable modem termination system (CMTS) traffic flows and controlling distribution of encryption keys to CMs.

A. The CMTS is the unit that is purchased by and resides at the cable operators’ facility, and acts as the connection between the cable network and the outside network.

A. Through a proposal and approval process similar to the drafting of the original specification. Changes are proposed, along with qualifying reasons, and then the proposals are made available to the DOCSIS community, including cable operators, vendors and service providers such as @Home and RoadRunner, for evaluation. A change is only accepted if a consensus can be reached and has gone through an engineering change order.

A. They are one and the same. DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Services Interface Specifications) is the name of the specification and CableLabs® Certified™ is the assurance that the products meet the specification.

A. A CableLabs® Certified™ product has software upgrade capability. This will allow new features automatically to be downloaded if the service provider supports these features.

A. The DOCSIS system architecture includes security components that ensure user data privacy across the shared-medium cable network and prevent unauthorized access to DOCSIS-based data transport services across the cable network. The DOCSIS architecture also supports the policing (i.e., filtering) functions that can be used to reduce risks from attacks targeted at attached CPE devices. These policing capabilities are comparable to those available within dedicated line network access systems (e.g., telephone, ISDN, DSL).

A. Developing a specification and then developing conforming product in just three years is a monumental task, a first-time achievement in any industry. The integrity of the certification process has been consistently—and unanimously—supported by the cable industry to assure that the most highly functional product is deployed in the first instance to assure high-level consumer satisfaction.

A. The product has been tested against specifications by using an audit test plan that evaluates a subset of the overall elements of the DOCSIS specification.

A. Five additional certification waves are planned for 1999 to allow additional vendors to provide CableLabs® Certified™ product.

A. Cable modems are "certified" interoperable with each other, while headend devices—cable modem termination systems—are qualified. These systems are "qualified" when they pass an interoperability test procedure similar to the modems. Certification provides the retail customer with assurance that the cable modem complies with the DOCSIS specification and will interoperate with other certified modems and qualified headend systems. Qualification assures the cable operator or broadband service provider that the headend equipment will interoperate with certified cable modems.

Cable Modem Branding and the High-speed Data Market

A. Yes. The cable modem certification team, made up of representatives from cable operators, vendor companies and CableLabs, developed the standard now known as CableLabs® Certified™ to provide consumers with a high degree of confidence that their off-the-shelf modem will function compatibly with their cable operators’ headend. Vendor participation is voluntary, but the benefit to the vendors’ sales and marketing efforts is obvious. Non-certified modems are available from some stores and operators in some parts of the country, but those modems may not work if purchased and then transported to other areas of the country.

A. Currently, cable operators have deployed more than 20,000 DOCSIS cable modems and 300 CMTS in field trials.

A. The retail channel is hungry for high-speed cable modems based on consumer interests. Vendors can populate the channel in a few weeks, based on their retail strategy. Many cable operators are expected to embrace the retail market rapidly.

A. If you have doubts about whether your cable system operator can support CableLabs® Certified™ modems, check with your local retailer, or call your local cable system operator.

A. The Cable Broadband Forum (CBF) is a consortium of cable operators and representatives of other industries founded a year ago with the intent of educating and informing the public of the benefits of the broadband cable network.

A. Cable operators may choose to continue providing their existing proprietary modem service, to replace their proprietary service with DOCSIS service, or to operate proprietary and DOCSIS services in the same system. In areas where there was no previous cable modem service, operators may install a new CableLabs® Certified™ solution.

Cable Modem Services Deployment

A. If they currently lease a modem, they should contact their local cable operator. If they purchased a CableLabs® Certified™ modem, they should call their local cable operator. If it is determined that the problem is with the modem and not with the service, they will be asked to contact the retailer or modem manufacturer.

A. Cable modems can be purchased from retail stores or other alternate locations, financed through third parties, or leased through cable operators.

A. CableLabs® Certified™ cable modems meet a minimum level of interoperability that ensures that your modem will be interoperable within any DOCSIS cable system. Just like your phone modem and your computer, the certified modem builds consumer confidence in much the same way as other nationally recognized product guarantees and seals. And, you can move with the device from place to place. A CableLabs® Certified™ modem also will serve as the basis for additional features and functionality.

A. @Home Ready is an additional brand created by @Home for its proprietary high-speed data network. While CableLabs® Certified™ assures the consumer that all cable modems carrying the CableLabs® Certified™ seal will interoperate with each other and with CableLabs qualified CMTSs, cable modems carrying the @Home Ready seal are optimized for use by consumers subscribing to @Home service.

A. Broadband service providers, such as @Home, also have internal plans to make sure cable modems and CMTSs have been verified and optimized for their operating systems. @Home has three levels of approval: level 3 for lab trials, level 2 for field trials, and level 1 for commercial deployments.

A. @Home and Road Runner provided—and continue to provide—significant and invaluable input to the DOCSIS program from the specification writing phase to interoperability and certification.

A. The cable industry has empowered consumers to use cable modems for most modern personal computers that utilize an Ethernet card and TCP/IP stack. Check with your cable operator for recommended configurations.

A. As your cable operator transitions individual neighborhoods to CableLabs® Certified™ equipment, you will be contacted. In the meantime, your modem will continue to operate just as it always has.

Cable Modem Basics

A. A cable modem is a device that allows high-speed access to the Internet via a cable TV network. A cable modem will typically have two connections, one to the cable wall outlet and the other to a computer (PC).

Cable modems allow consumers access to the Internet at higher speeds and at a fraction of the time it takes traditional telephone modems. This is true for two reasons: (1) broadband networks make the connection up to a hundred times faster, and (2) the service is "always on," meaning customers get the information they want, when they want it. And unlike telephone modems, cable modems allow consumers to keep their telephone lines open for voice conversations.

As anyone who has ever surfed the Internet using a phone line can tell you, connections are painfully slow, especially when downloading photographs, graphics or video images. The cable modem technology provides an "always on" feature for individuals to access the Internet rapidly, while its broadband network allows users to move around quickly, eliminating the frustration of today’s Internet user experience. As a result, information providers will be able to offer better quality content as more consumers gain higher-speed access to the Internet.

Q. How does a cable modem connect to a computer?

A. Today, modems are connected to computers using several different methods, including 10Base T. As with all high-technology services, we expect continuous upgrades, eventually to the point where modems are located inside the PC.