Intel requests Ethernet ports for all cable STBs

July 22, 2008 - Representatives of Intel recently visited the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to push for a mandate obliging all US cable set-top boxes to have IP capability, along with discussing other recent trends in home networking, according to reports.

"Given the marketplace acceptance of IP, Messrs. Lawrence and Greenstein suggested that this regulation should be amended so as to make mandatory the availability of boxes using an IP-based interface that facilitates home networking, such as Ethernet," says Intel's filing.

The Intel representatives reportedly quoted precedents such as an FCC regulation from 2003 that obliged cable operators to offer set-top boxes that include the IEEE 1394 (Firewire) external data bus. However there have been doubts raised as to whether an FCC mandate is necessary, given that the industry is already moving in the direction of ubiquitous IP connectivity.