Cable

摘要

Redesigning EchoStar’s new K77 set-top box to accommodate an analog tuner would require 12 ton16 months, increase its size by 33 percent and its price by up to $30, the company told staff from the MedianBureau and acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn’s office in a meeting Tuesday, said an ex parte filing Thursday (http://bit.ly/13qyKzB). EchoStar urged the commission to “expeditiously” approve a proposednwaiver of its analog tuner requirement for the device. The K77 was originally designed for the U.K. Therenanalog tuners are not required, the company said. The K77 would allow “budget-conscious consumers” tonview and record over-the-air TV content, access online video, and use it as a DVR while avoiding subscriptionnfees, EchoStar said. If a waiver isn’t granted by Sept. 9, EchoStar won’t be able to offer the K77 at bigboxnretail stores for the holidays, said the filing. If not granted by Oct. 17, "the entire product could be innjeopardy as key dates for online holiday sales, production runs, and the right go-to market timing would benmissed,” EchoStar said. To address bureau concerns about informing the public that the K77 doesn’t containnan analog tuner, EchoStar promised to provide information to retailers and in product guides clearlynstating that it can’t receive analog broadcast signals. Customers who buy the K77 “under the mistaken assumption”nit can receive analog over-the–air signals will be eligible for a full refund for 30 days, EchoStarnsaid. The bureau granted a similar waiver to TiVo earlier this month (CD Aug 12 p15).