I find it fascinating that this is the last entry in this "blog" that even provides a place for comments to be entered. It seems that Cox doesn't want to hear what it's customers have to say. Sounds more like a bunch of press releases than a blog...

Anyway, I thought you might want to know the reason that I will be abandoning Cox for FIOS the first day it becomes available in my neighborhood, in spite of any price difference. Cox, in its infinite wisdom, decided to cripple my Tivo Series 3 by requiring a bidirectional protocol (that is only available to Cox-provided set top boxes) for all future HD channels. Ironically, when I called Cox technical support to ask why I couldn't receive NFLHD, they assured me that it could not have anything to do with a bidirectional protocol because there was no need for that capability for the channel in question.

I bought the Tivo Series 3 because Cox claimed to support CableCard. Now, you've decided to make second-class citizens out of any customer that took you at your word and shelled out $800 for a premium DVR. Maybe you could explain how this end-run around the integration ban isn't a violation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

I was completely content to stay a Cox customer indefinitely. Before this latest development, I figured that there was nothing you could do that would ever cause me to consider going back to DirecTV. But I guess I underestimated just how customer-hostile the cable industry is.

Actually, Cox DOES support CableCARD devices and all DCR devices including the TiVo Series3 and the TiVo HD DVR. Cox is very supportive of the new technology and whenever possible, we make every effort to provide the same services to consumers regardless of whether they use a leased receiver or retail purchased devices. Currently, all Digital Cable Ready devices, like the TiVo Series3, are “one-way” devices - meaning they cannot communicate back to the headend or equipment at Cox that transmits cable programming to your home, they can only receive a transmission. We utilize two-way technology to deliver key features like our interactive program guide, sports packages and even new channels in some cases. The limitations you are referring to lie in the device, not with Cox or CableCARDs. One-way DCR units, including TiVo, have limited functionality with switched digital technology as well, meaning they are unable to receive digital programming that is delivered via this technology. TiVo is currently working to develop and test a solution so that their One-way devices can receive switched channels. Cox is partnering with them to test this technology.

In the future, electronics companies will begin making interactive digital cable-ready (iDCR) devices that will be able to support these advanced features including implementing tru2way technology. Tru2way establishes a common software platform that enables cable companies, content developers, network programmers, consumer electronics companies and others to offer interactivity to the television set and many other devices. The technology will increase cable’s ability to create and deploy an array of new interactive services for consumers.