Media Bureau grants waivers to integrated set-top box rules

On May 4, the FCC Media Bureau granted requests for waivers of commission rules regarding integrated set-top boxes from Charter Communications and Millennium Telecom.

In granting a request from Charter Communications for a waiver of the ban on integrated set-top boxes for seven models until July 1, 2008, the bureau found that “severe financial difficulties” facing the cable company justified the action.

The bureau also granted conditional waivers to Millennium Telcom, which is doing business as OneSource Communications and GCI Cable. The commitment of these operators to migrate to all-digital systems prior to Feb. 17, 2009, justified the action.