CableLabs® Launches Go2BroadbandSM Service
CableLabs® recently announced the June 30th launch of its Web site, Go2BroadbandSM—A Service of CableLabs® , designed as the only industry-wide service locator available to assist computer makers and retail partners in selling cable modems along with their other products.

The Go2BroadbandSM service is a business-to-business e-commerce site that will report the serviceability of homes receiving cable-delivered high-speed data for virtually the entire cable industry. The Go2BroadbandSM service site, currently under active testing by cable operators and retailers, will be launched commercially at the end of June.

"The launch of the Go2BroadbandSM service is a significant marketing milestone for the cable industry as it steps forward in selling its high-speed data services," said Kevin Leddy, Time Warner Cable Senior Vice President of New Business Development, who is heading the project for CableLabs members. "The Go2BroadbandSM service will serve as a key tool to open new doors through which more consumers will be able to access our services," Leddy said.

Susan Marshall, Senior Vice President, Data Services, with AT&T Broadband, said that, "We at AT&T Broadband are strongly behind the Go2BroadbandSM service initiative and we have already built the infrastructure to start real-time transactions. We see vast potential and fully expect the Go2BroadbandSM service to evolve to include functions that go beyond service availability, and allow cable operators to complete consumer sales and to schedule an installation of service."

Brad Dusto, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Comcast Cable Communications, noted that, "The Go2BroadbandSM service offers one entry point into virtually the entire cable industry’s serviceable footprint, allowing computer makers and retailers a highly desirable one-stop-shopping opportunity." In comparison, retailers encounter a highly fragmented DSL market dotted with a host of service locators, he said. "We think we’ve got a significant market advantage relative to DSL in this regard," added Dusto.

"Having succeeded with the certification of DOCSIS cable modems, the CableLabs Board of Directors wanted CableLabs to build a vehicle to speed sales of these cable modems," said David Reed, Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning at CableLabs, who leads the project internally for CableLabs. "In short order, with the assistance of our members, we have been able to achieve and implement industry consensus on the technical requirements for this marketing tool."

CableLabs has conducted beta tests since April between CableLabs member companies and several retailers, under the direction of J.P. Singh, Project Director, E-Commerce Applications. Singh described Go2BroadbandSM service as a real-time messaging service between retail partners on one side seeking answers to cable modem service availability, and cable companies on the other side with high-speed services to sell.

Go2BroadbandSM service accepts customer address serviceability queries from retailers, identifies the appropriate cable company to which to forward the query, andresponds back to the retailer with cable operator service availability and offer details. Go2BroadbandSM service can handle thousands of messages simultaneously in real time.
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