AT&T, BellSouth, Verizon and the Consumer Electronics Association have agreed on a number of principles necessary to ensure commercial availability of IP-enabled video networks.
The principles were unveiled during CEA's "Entertainment Technology Policy Summit," March 15-16 in Washington, D.C. In summary the principles provide for:
• Nationwide compatibility of home networking standards
• Open standards
• Reasonable licensing terms
• Reasonable testing and certification procedures
• Reasonable terms of service for consumers
"IP-enabled video networks will provide consumers across the nation with a revolutionary new way to access their favorite video programs when and where they want," said Gary Shapiro, CEA president and CEO. "We believe these principles will provide solid guidelines and help support an environment in which IP can flourish."
"We look forward to bringing a new entertainment experience to our customers by delivering programming that consumers want while protecting the rights of our partners in the content community," said Dorothy Attwood, AT&T senior vice president.
Jonathan Banks, BellSouth vice president of executive and federal regulatory affairs, said, "As BellSouth continues to investigate IPTV, we are excited to endorse these principles."
"This is a key step toward assuring consumers that the electronic devices they buy will work seamlessly with advanced, IP-enabled services now being designed and deployed," said Susanne Guyer, Verizon senior vice president of federal regulatory affairs.
