Leading U.S. and Canadian cable companies will be involved in this endeavor and hope to build upon the valuable early work done by the cable modem manufacturers and the lessons to be learned from deployment of various modems in 1996. These specifications will then be presented to recognized standards-setting bodies for approval as standards. Several interfaces are within weeks of being specified. One is the connection between the cable television modem and the computer. In addition, the link between cable networks and the next level of wider area networks is close to being identified.
Some interfaces also reside within the cable network.
Manufacturers who invest in technology early on, and who supply the early generations of modems for market entry, will have many opportunities to increase sales as interfaces are established, executives said. CableLabs will work with vendors and others on these intellectual property rights issues, to ensure a continuing supply of modems to meet the high early demand. 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. It also transfers relevant technologies to member companies and to the industry. In addition, CableLabs acts as a clearinghouse to provide information on current and prospective technological developments that are of interest to the cable industry.