Brian James, formerly director of advanced television testing with CableLabs, will manage the laboratory for Rogers Cablesystems as TAC Test Centre vice president. CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Richard R. Green noted that the creation of the TAC Test Centre fulfills one of the cable industry's objectives that had been suggested when CableLabs was established in 1988.
Testing is voluntary on the part of vendors.
Vendors will be informed of what type of equipment will be evaluated, and asked whether they would like their equipment to be included. James stressed that CableLabs' member companies will have an active role in determining what evaluations the TAC Test Centre performs and their priority. James added that CableLabs members are being polled to find out what tests they would like to see performed first. While we certainly will be evaluating equipment independently in our facility, we also are hoping to work with MSOs to use their test information on products. CableLabs plans and funds research and development projects that will help cable companies take advantage of future opportunities and meet future challenges in the telecommunications industry.