From: frank.kennedy@u2u.lonestar.org (Frank Kennedy) 
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Subject: FCC Docket           7/15
Date: 4 Jan 93 22:32:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: USER-TO-USER PCBoard (214)492-6565 (USR DS v32bis)
Reply-To: frank.kennedy@u2u.lonestar.org (Frank Kennedy) 

   [ ...Continued From Previous Message ]

           On account of ECM attacks, legal consumers have been subjected to

           repair service by GIC for HSD decoder modules that were otherwise

           in good condition.  HSD consumers know that ECMs also are used to

           make it possible for GIC to inspect the decoder modules of

           innocent subscribers and to pressure dish owners into paying for

           upgraded modules.

               An example of an ECM zapping the wrong satellite dish  took

           place on August 2, 1991, in Macon, Missouri.  On that day, GIC

           sent electronic counter measures to the satellite dish of SuzAnne

           Baechler of Macon.  Although GIC acknowledged that this had been

           done, it refused to reauthorize service. One year later, during

           which time Baechler was unable to receive program services she

           had paid for in advance and was required to continue making loan

           payments on equipment she could not use, GIC sent a

           representative out to Macon to evaluate the legality of

           Baechler's VC II.  All along, GIC had insinuated that Baechler was

           guilty of piracy.







                 The representative affirmed that Baechler's equipment had

           not been tampered with and replaced her legal VC II with a

           VideoCipher module.  However, to this day, Baechler has not been

           reimbursed for her considerable financial loss due to GIC

           unwarranted ECM. (See Baechler statement to GIC in Appendix)

                There are hundreds of other instances of ECMing that  were

           directed at an innocent HSD consumer.  Unfortunately,  once the

           presumption of guilt triggers an electronic zap, HSD owners must

           send their modules to GIC for inspection and pay to have  their

           own equipment repaired.

                The ECMed lawful subscriber then loses his or her financial

           investment for which there is no later compensation.  CSC believes

           HSD owners of the GIC decoder module who have been unjustifiably

           ECMed should have the right to choose whatever repair service is

           most convenient and to be fully compensated financially by GIC,

           even when the warranty period for their module is over.

                An article published in the July 1992 issue of Cable World

           magazine points out that Warner Cable of Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,

           took steps to protect its legal cable subscribers against

           electronic counter measures (ECMs).  It had been using two

           different manufacturers' cable boxes -- Pioneer and Jerrold  (a

           GI-owned Corporation).  Then, after recognizing that the Jerrold

           technology did not adequately protect the legal subscriber,

           Warner Cable of Milwaukee ceased using the Jerrold boxes and now

           uses only  Pioneer's "Terminator" system which can be relied upon

           to disable pirated converter boxes only.

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