At this point, we have no problems seeing we will have POD modules ready for the July 2000 rollout. Reasons for concern One reason for continuing concern over the schedule is that OpenCable participants initially set a September 2000 deadline. The accelerated schedule has made compliance a closer call, leading some to doubt that industry participants will make it. They re going to have to be very sensitive about how to handle this whole situation so they don t get in trouble with the FCC and with Congress. Meeting the deadline may become a matter of interpretation.
OpenCable participants say that nontechnical issues complicate the picture.
There are MSOs that don t want to change their headends. There s a couple of major vendors here in the U.S. that really have deployed an awful lot of equipment. An open standard just increases expenses and costs for certain MSOs. The perception that momentum is battling inertia lingers. The 1996 Telecommunications Act stipulated that cable subscribers be able to purchase their own equipment.